DIG delivers new Walsh Hall in time for school opening

Team delivers complex project on 17-month timeline

Shown from left: Bryan Hekemian, head of the building and grounds committee of the Board of Trustees, with DIG Architecture’s Jeff Venezia, CEO; Laura Masters, interior designer; and Paul Graebener, senior project manager. ~ Photo Credit: DIG Architecture

SADDLE RIVER, NJ — As Saddle River Day School (SRDS) welcomes students back for the new academic year, DIG Architecture (DIG) adds a new chapter to its educational portfolio: the completed 32,000 s/f Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship. Spearheaded from initial concepts to completion by DIG’s CEO and principal Jeffrey Venezia, the transformative facility – the central centerpiece of SRDS’s Building the Future Campaign – was successfully delivered within an ambitious 17-month construction timeline.

This latest assignment highlights DIG’s academic projects across independent schools like SRDS, as well as public K-12 districts and regional vocational-technical institutions. The new multi-disciplinary building introduces 15 state-of-the-art classrooms, four small-group instruction rooms, four advanced science labs and dedicated flexible spaces for robotics, engineering, and business education.

One key priority was positioning this modern academic building in balance with SRDS’s historic North Hall. DIG thoughtfully aligned the exterior aesthetics, building materials and color selections to complement and elevate the original structure without overpowering the founding pillar of the SRDS campus.

Recognizing SRDS’ unique identity as a vibrant commuter school, DIG incorporated a 3,000 s/f open common space and flexible collaboration hubs to foster daily social interaction and community connection. The facility also houses a new admissions center to support student recruitment, alongside outdoor campus enhancements including new tennis courts, a synthetic turf field, expanded parking and site landscaping.

Delivering a complex facility on a strict 17-month turnaround required precision in execution and active field leadership. Driven by Venezia’s hands-on oversight, the DIG multi-disciplinary team maintained a constant availability both through state-of-the-art technology and on-site presence throughout the construction phase to facilitate open communication across all contractors and trades. This included inspecting every detail during the push to prepare for the opening, including concrete scoring, millwork installation and donor recognition and signage, to guarantee flawless execution in time for arriving students and families.