Bergen Catholic Architecture Club Tours Woodmont’s Saddle River Grand

Students in Bergen Catholic High School’s architecture club spent their Friday morning getting a crash course in Georgian Colonial architecture as they were led on an inside tour of Woodmont Properties’ Saddle River Grand, a gated community of luxurious manor homes inspired by classic that combines a classic brick exterior with modern features and finishes.

For nearly a decade now, Robert Zampolin, the architect for Saddle River Grand, has mentored student members of the Architecture Club at Bergen Catholic. Zampolin speaks about the profession, shows films dealing with buildings and helps the students complete design-oriented projects in an effort to inspire them about the field of architecture.

“The students know how things work, but they will be able to really view the process by taking in all of the work in progress at Saddle River Grand,” said Zampolin. “It’s an amazing community and I hope the visit will truly inspire the students and foster an appreciation for architecture.”

Saddle River Grand features 68 luxury homes ranging from 4,300 to 5,700 square feet with first-floor master suites or elevator accessible second-floor master suites in select homes. Dramatic entryways, designer kitchens and finished lower levels are only the start of the grandeur and elegance. 

Zampolin, along with Steve Klenk, Woomont’s project manager on the site, took the students on a walking tour of the community still under construction, starting literally from the ground up. Students started out viewing the foundation for the manor homes, continuing down the block and walking through other homes that are being framed.

The final leg of the tour included strolling through a few nearly finished homes that are being readied for move in within a few weeks. Encouraged to take off their shoes, the students marveled at master elevator equipped master bedroom suites, full bathrooms, his-and-hers closets, imported marble and granite and custom designed finishes. 

“We are really lucky and grateful for both Mr. Zampolin and Woodmont Properties who have generously donated their time to ensure that our students who are interested in architecture get a first-hand look at what goes into the entire home building process,” said Brian Rendine, advisor to the group for Bergen Catholic.