Mercer County Technical Schools, Mercer County, NJ
Over several years, James Nichols has assisted Mercer County Technical Schools in developing a long-term educational and architectural vision for the District, which operates three campuses in Mercer County, New Jersey.
The collaborative planning process has centered on the transition from traditional, shared-time vocational education to the Career Academy model that provides full-time, comprehensive, career-focused programs that prepare students for highvalue careers as well as higher education programs in their fields. Several scenarios, including the closure of one of the district's main campuses and consolidating programs on one site, were carefully considered before embarking on a more gradual transition to full-time programs.
The current plan centers on the Assunpink Campus, where the first full-time students in the Health Science Academy started Freshman Year in September of 2010 in the new Multi-Purpose Science Laboratory designed by James Nichols Architecture. The lab consists of two separate lecture/lab areas separated by a demonstration table, as well as a prep room, locker rooms, and a faculty workroom.
Future phases include additional Science Laboratories, a Student Commons, a Fitness Center, and additional classrooms, to be completed over the next three years on the Assunpink Campus