J.G. Petrucci Co. recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in conjunction with the city of Plainfield at the campus of Koinonia Academy and First Children School in Plainfield. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the culmination of meticulous planning, design and construction efforts led by J.G. Petrucci Co., and its construction subsidiary, Iron Hill Construction Management.
The event featured remarks from various dignitaries, including Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, Economic Development Director Zenobia Fields and city council President Steve G. Hockaday. Mapp commended the collaboration between all stakeholders involved in bringing this project to fruition, emphasizing its positive impact on the educational landscape of Plainfield. Remarks were also made by First Children President Joseph Hess and by Koinonia Academy’s board president, Michael Temple.
For First Children, a state-of-the-art 45,000-square-foot school specifically designed for children with special needs was delivered in December 2023. Demolition began in March 2023 and the school was able to welcome children in January.
“We are so proud of our new, state-of-the-art special educational facility in Plainfield,” Matthew Hess, CEO of First Children School, said. “The new building enhances our program and its more than 40-year history of providing educational and therapeutic services to children with complex medical, behavioral and developmental challenges. It was a pleasure working with J.G. Petrucci, particularly Greg Rogerson and Dominick Baker, in the planning, design and, ultimately, delivery of this incredible property that will serve as our home, delivering on our mission of providing ‘Life Changing Outcomes to Exceptional Kids’ for years to come.”
Koinonia Academy is a prestigious educational institution offering a faith-based and comprehensive learning experience for enrolled children. Petrucci and Iron Hill constructed a 10,700-square-foot annex to accommodate eight classrooms. Completing the annex has allowed Koinonia to accept 36 additional students and four additional staff members for enrollment.
“The only thing better than building one new school for fabulous New Jersey children is building two new schools for fabulous New Jersey children,” Rogerson, a principal at Petrucci, said.
