NEW BRUNSWICK – Lightly used athletic gear was neatly hung on a rack. Across the aisle, a cotton sweater and dress shirt ensemble patiently waited for just the right shopper.

From vintage records to framed movie posters, this place had the kind of inventory you’d typically see at a second-hand boutique.

It is anything but typical, however.

The Sol Power Thrift Store, made from a repurposed standard shipping container, was unveiled Monday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by some of the New Brunswick students who developed, designed and built it.

The challenge posed to the students in the P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) program, which is dedicated to fostering the next generation of STEM and STEAM students and nurturing tomorrow’s problem-solvers, was this: Identify an issue in the community that could be solved by transforming an empty shipping container into useful space.

Students worked with school industry partner JINGOLI, a New Jersey-based company whose energy and construction division works on projects in sectors ranging from health care to gaming, sought to create a space that provided affordable clothing in the community at a time when the prices at many stores have increased due to the rising popularity of vintage shopping.

With support from representatives from JINGOLI and its partners, including New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO) and IJB Electric, students developed the design and plans for the off-the-grid store.

“We are pleased to partner with P-TECH and New Brunswick Public Schools to bring hands-on learning opportunities and experiences to students,” said Joseph R. Jingoli Jr., CEO of JINGOLI. “I am so impressed by the current and former students here today and their work on this project, for they are the future of New Brunswick. This transformed shipping container is proof that introducing young people to careers in STEM, STEAM and construction fields helps them develop the skills for real, meaningful careers.”

Over the summer and into this school year, recent graduates of P-TECH served as interns with JINGOLI and DEVCO to implement the students’ design to complete the transformation, learning real-world construction planning skills.

We are so proud of the work our students have done and continue to do,” said Meegan Adames, Principal, New Brunswick P-TECH High School. “This project has allowed the students to more fully understand their own abilities. From conceptualization to development and production, JINGOLI has provided our students with invaluable experience and perspective. Because of their work on the container project, our students see firsthand that what they dream can, in fact, become a living, breathing, reality.”

Designed as a self-contained store, with clothing racks and all, the container includes six solar panels that charge two lithium-ion phosphate batteries. This array powers AC/heating for HVAC and electric power for domestic use. All of this is within a shipping container measuring 8 feet tall, 8 feet wide and 20 feet long.

Over the coming months, P-TECH students will run pop-up thrift shops out of the container for the community.

This ongoing partnership with JINGOLI and our other industry partners represents a tremendous educational opportunity for participating students,” said Schools Superintendent Dr. Aubrey Johnson. “By learning from and interacting with companies and organizations that are successful players in technology and construction, they’re able to see and do things that would otherwise be outside their experience. This thrift store exemplifies what our students gain from the P-TECH partnership.”

As industry partner to a cohort of P-TECH students, representatives from JINGOLI also serve as mentors to students throughout the course of their school years. Students also have the opportunity to intern at JINGOLI and partners, such as DEVCO, learning about the nuances of professional environments and receiving a first-hand look at careers in the fields they’ve studied.

The results of this project are truly remarkable,” said New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill. “Our aspiring innovators have not just adopted sustainability principles, but have cleverly woven them into the very essence of their designs. As we applaud the triumph of this engineering feat, let’s also recognize the influence this initiative holds in molding the future trailblazers of our city. With the invaluable assistance of JINGOLI, these individuals transcend being mere students; they are architects of change, building a foundation for a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for all.”

Ultimately, the container will be utilized by New Brunswick Adult Learning Center.

JINGOLI’s involvement with New Brunswick P-TECH is one of numerous initiatives under JINGOLI Competitive Edge, which was created to introduce individuals to careers and identify, train and find meaningful employment for high school students and adults who live within the cities and towns where JINGOLI performs construction and construction management work.

These programs have provided opportunities for individuals in Newark, Atlantic City, Camden and New Brunswick.

Source:
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/new-brunswick/sections/education/articles/new-brunswick-p-tech-students-unveil-off-the-grid-thrift-store-created-from-shipping-container