J.G. Petrucci Co. announces move into educational market

Real Estate Weekly, Oct 30, 2002

J.G. Petrucci Co., Inc. recently announced a new initiative to service the educational marketplace. Building upon a successful track record of facility conversions, Petrucci has launched a dedicated acquisition fund to take advantage of conversion opportunities for charter schools as well as the non-profit sector.

J.G. Petrucci has enjoyed a long history of serving the educational marketplace. In 1993, Petrucci provided turnkey delivery of a 14-acre, multi-building complex to the Hunterdon County Education Services Commission in Raritan township, N.J. The centerpiece of the ESC campus included a 30,000 SF former bank building that was completely gutted and retrofit as a school for children with special needs. The Petrucci design team, headed by lead architect Carmine Cerminara, handled all New Jersey Board of Education requirements and the retrofit was completed in less than 120 days.

Another representative project was the conversion of a laboratory space in Bethlehem, Penn. into an educational day treatment center for Lifepath, a non-profit organization. Lifepath serves mentally retarded adults.

A more recent project included the acquisition and retrofit of a 35-year-old industrial building for the ARC of Union. The ARC Kohler School will educate children with various disabilities such as autism. The Petrucci design/build team obtained complete site plan approvals from the township of Mountainside, as well as local and Board of Education building permits. Construction is underway and occupancy has been delivered in time for the school year start.

According to Rosalin Petrucci, who directs this initiative, "Our organization is extremely well positioned to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in the educational marketplace. J.G. Petrucci Co. has built an enviable reputation in this marketplace and we are now looking forward to growing our presence even further."