Construction is underway on 42 apartments on Barclay Street that will serve as dormitories for students from a New York-based medical school who are going through training at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center. Officials at New York Medical College (NYMC) say the dormitories will be ready to open in January.
“This building will provide convenient, modern short term housing for NYMC students who are participating in clinical training at the medical center,” said the medical college’s spokeswoman, Jennifer Riekert.
Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres expressed excitement about the new dorms. “I believe that at some point you might see something similar happening in our downtown with young people at PCCC (Passaic County Community College),” the mayor said.
The dorms near St. Joseph’s appeared on Barclay Street almost overnight. The contractor two weeks ago stacked five units of wood-framed modular housing on top of the first-floor steel-framed base, according to a spokesperson for the developer, The Danza Group.
The building stands 60-feet and six-inches high and its builders are boasting that it is the tallest wood modular structure in the country. The building includes both studio and one-bedroom apartments. In some instances, students’ spouses will live with them, according to the medical college.
“The building will provide our students with safe, affordable housing and contribute to the ongoing revitalization of the community surrounding the hospital,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, President of Touro College and University Systems and New York Medical College.
Riekert said most units will be occupied by medical students, but some will come from the college’s other health-related education programs – including physical therapy and nursing who are studying at St. Joseph’s. “In addition, some apartments may be used by employees of St. Joseph’s,” said Riekert.
The medical school is part of the Manhattan-based Touro College and University System. The Danza Group hired Professional Building Systems, Inc. to construct the dorms.
Tony Danza, the chief executive officer of the development company, said the new modular dormitory is being built “in a fraction of the time needed for other construction techniques.”
By Joe Malilnconico | September 8, 2015
Source: NorthJersey.com