Montville Township High School invites public to opening of newly renovated Media Center

The students, faculty, staff and administrators of Montville Township High School, along with the Montville Township Board of Education, invite the entire community to celebrate the newly renovated MTHS Media Center. The celebration and student-led tours will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 in the MTHS Media Center and Rotunda.

The culmination of a two-year exploration and design process, the MTHS Media Center renovation was spearheaded by the MTHS Media Center Action Committee. Comprised of faculty, administrators, board members, parents, and students, the MTHS Media Center Action Committee researched 21st Century innovations in media centers locally, across the nation, and around the world.

“Our media center was in need of a substantial upgrade,” Principal Douglas Sanford said. “The space no longer satisfied the educational needs of our faculty, students, and community.”

The Montville Township Public Schools district was named a national District of Distinction in July by District Administration Magazine because of the instructional and research innovations developed through the MTHS Humanities Research Program. The Humanities Research Program was inspired and influenced by Montville’s Science Research Program. The resources and flexibility of the new MTHS Media Center’s design educationally align with Montville’s award-winning instructional innovations.

The volunteers of the MTHS Media Center Action Committee traveled extensively, making site visits to newly renovated high school and college media centers throughout the north east and beyond.

“After that, we synthesized our findings together with what we know about the direction that classroom instruction and individualized student learning is headed. This lead us to the design of our media center—a design that embraces flexibility, collaboration, access to information and resources,” said Sanford.

Built in 1972, this renovation is the first significant upgrade to the MTHS Media Center in 43 years.

In July, construction crews began dismantling walls, widening doors, and rerouting wiring throughout the MTHS Media Center. Upgraded technology, expanded windows, an outdoor education space, flexible glass classrooms, a performance platform and a soaring circulation desk have redefined the space and brought the research opportunities it provides into the modern world.

“It’s fair to say that our media center, bears little resemblance to a traditional library; rather, it would be more accurately described as a learning commons,” Sanford added.

The $1 million project was funded by capital reserve deposits and did not require outside funding from the community to complete. The state-of-the-art facility and interiors were designed by SSP Architectural Group of Bridgewater, NJ and SSDS Soyka Smith Design Studios in Montclair, NJ. Education construction specialists, Vanas Construction Company, Inc. of Bogota, NJ, facilitated the renovation.

Currently over 3,800 students are enrolled in Montville Township Public Schools. More than 1,200 attend MTHS.

The newly renovated MTHS Media Center will be unveiled for the public on January 19, 2016. The celebration will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. The entire community is enthusiastically encouraged to attend. MTHS is located at 100 Horseneck Road, Montville, New Jersey. MTHS students, faculty, staff and administrators are hopeful all residents, leaders, families, friends and relatives will attend the landmark celebration.

CAPTIONS (renderings & floor plan by SSP Architectural Group):

1: Invitation to MTHS Media Center opening:

The students, faculty, staff and administrators of Montville Township High School, along with the Montville Township Board of Education, invite the entire community to celebrate the newly renovated MTHS Media Center. The celebration and student-led tours will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 in the MTHS Media Center.

2. Rendering of outdoor education area:

The MTHS Media Center Action committee researched Media centers throughout the northeast and around the globe. They synthesized their findings together with instructional innovations focused on individualized student learning. The result is a state-of-the-art design that embraces flexibility, collaboration, and access to information and resources. Upgraded technology, expanded windows, an outdoor education space, flexible glass classrooms, a performance platform and a soaring circulation desk have redefined the space and brought the research opportunities the MTHS Media Center provides into the modern world. A celebration and student-led tours will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

3. Rendering of interior ceiling:

The newly renovated Montville Township High School Media Center is designed to support researched-centered learning in the 21st Century. The MTHS Media Center renovation was spearheaded by the MTHS Media Center Action Committee. Comprised of faculty, administrators, board members, parents, and students, the MTHS Media Center Action Committee researched modern innovations in media centers locally, across the nation, and around the world. A celebration and student-led tours will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 in the MTHS.

4. History of MTHS Media Center renovation

The MTHS Media Center Action Committee included representatives from across Montville Township’s entire education community, including students and parents. The result is a state of the art learning commons outfitted to assist students and educators in navigating and facilitating 21st Century research-based learning.

5. Floor Plan:

The Montville Township Public Schools district was named a national District of Distinction in July by District Administration Magazine because of the instructional and research innovations developed through the MTHS Humanities Research Program. With active study areas, flex rooms, collaboration classrooms, an outdoor space and an art gallery, the resources and flexibility of the new MTHS Media Center’s design educationally align with Montville’s award-winning instructional innovations. A celebration and student-led tours will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 in the MTHS.