The PHS Media Center is finally back open!
After almost a year of renovations, on the evening of April 21st, 2026, Piscataway students, teachers, families, administration, board of Education members, and even the architectural team in charge, gathered to officially open the new PHS Media Center, cafe, E-sports room, and other rooms that were updated as a result of the construction.
The new Media Center’s official purpose is to enhance creativity, reading, and to help students study and prepare for a better future. Construction began in 2024, with plans starting 6 months earlier, making it “an 18 month process”. The construction began with the removal of the iconic spiral staircase to the Anthony Main Office in the D Wing, but it was replaced with modifications and modernizations such as a new E-Sports Room and removal of the with a new glass box reading area.
Superintendent Erskine Glover began this event with a few words on the behalf of the groups of people that had contributed to the media center. He stated that the new Media Center is “a multi-media learning space” and like “a traditional library but collaboration with students” and also used for “building an academic pathway”. Superintendent Glover stated that the new Media Center overall is modernized for 2030 and beyond, stating, “There’s more on the horizon for this great township and great district”. After a few more words from the Piscataway Board of Education members, the ribbon was officially cut, symbolizing a new future for PHS students. After that, 8 AFJROTC cadets guided the visitors on a tour of the newly renovated areas of the Anthony Wing of the school. That included the new Respect Cafe, new Nurse office in the Anthony Wing, the new Cove, the Anthony Gym, and C120. After the tour, everyone came back to the Respect Cafe to chat and have coffee and cookies.
Principal Baldassano described how the new facilities would be introduced to the students: “We are planning on bringing every English class down for a tour when we return from spring break… after the tours, we will open for circulation”.
New renovations have come to the Media Center consisting of significant modernizations and modifications. Firstly, the biggest addition to the Media Center was the new E Sports gaming room. The E Sports room consisted of tables with top of the line MSI PC’s and monitors, 4 Nintendo Switch charging stations, PHS yellow and black colors, mood lightning, and 3 TV screens for playing games.
Another noticeable modification is the removal of the spiral staircase to the upstairs Anthony Main Office which has been replaced with a glass box reading area for quiet reading. Additional features to the Media Center include new lighting and carpet, over 11,000 books in the library, and more yellow and black added to the Media Center, giving it a PHS themed modern and sleek aesthetic. New classroom spaces are included along with 4 total Promethium boards which includes one in C120.
The new media center was overall designed to be welcoming and “soothing area” to give PHS students an advanced, comfortable, and accessible place to study. Similar aesthetics are also present in the other renovated areas of PHS like the Cove or the Respect Cafe which are also designed to be welcoming.
With all these renovations of not just the Media Center, but also the areas surrounding it in the Anthony Wing, the building is clearly ready to welcome the students of 2030 and beyond!
