Allentown board approves design development for Northridge K‑8, authorizes move to construction phase

The Allentown School District board of directors voted unanimously Aug. 21 to approve the project justification and design‑development documents for a new K‑8 school on the district’s Northridge site and authorized staff to advance the project to the Department of Education’s PlanCon Part F (construction) phase.

The project covers roughly 16.7 acres and, according to district presentations, is sized for about 126,000–132,050,000 in construction cost (design‑development estimate). Site plans shown to the board include a multiuse synthetic‑turf athletic field, an academic courtyard, a 164‑space parking layout, a central “Main Street” interior spine linking library and innovation labs, a multipurpose gym/auditorium and dedicated innovation/fab labs. District staff said the design work remains subject to Act 34 review and final bidding.

Why it matters: The board’s action formally advances a major capital project that district leaders say will replace aging facilities and create a continuous K‑8 pathway that feeds into themed…