Construction Of New Performing Arts Center For Mendham Middle School Underway

MENDHAM, NJ — The Mendham Borough School District has broken ground on what will be a new performing arts center at a local middle school.

A ground-breaking event in January honored the start of construction for the Performing Arts Center addition at Mountain View Middle School. Voters approved the project in a 2025 bond referendum, providing funding for the new facility.

Related: Several Renovations Approved For Mendham Schools

“The arts shape and enrich the learning environment in our Mendham Borough schools,” said Superintendent Mitzi Morillo. “This groundbreaking affirms this passion and is the result of many years of planning to maintain the level of education excellence that the community expects for its students.”

The new center will include an oversized classroom for public speaking, music exploration, and other arts-related courses. Young artists will have a new stage with state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment. The Performing Arts Center is designed to serve as a "vibrant gathering space for the entire school community."

Morillo thanked the Board of Education, School Business Administrator Vanessa Wolsky, key educators, and volunteers for their dedication. She also thanked Borough residents for their support, noting that the scale of improvements would not be possible without the bond referendum funding.

Board President Stephen McLaud also thanked neighbors and the school community for their patience during the expansion of educational offerings.

“We [the Board and administrators] will continue our due diligence to ensure the safety of the students, staff, and community,” McLaud said.

Legacy Construction Management, Inc. also attended the ceremony. President Brian Meade stated that their role is to ensure the contractor follows plans and keeps the project on schedule and on budget.

Project Executive Conor O’Brien added that their responsibility starts outside the construction zone to minimize interruptions. Construction management collaborates with the district to ensure safety and minimize disruptions during school operations.

Other completed referendum-related updates include roof and boiler upgrades at Hilltop School and a security vestibule and fifth-grade science lab at Mountain View Middle School.