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Dive Brief:
- Providence, Rhode Island-based Gilbane Building Co. is back in school with the announcement of milestones on three K-12 projects in Massachusetts, according to the contractor.
- The construction company celebrated the punctual opening of two schools — one at Groton, the other at Andover — next to the graduating from high school in the Boston suburb of Wakefield.
- “These new facilities provide world-class 21st-century learning environments for some of our state’s youngest students, with sustainability components that districts can be truly proud of,” said Justin MacEachern, business leader for Gilbane in Massachusetts, in the release.
Diving knowledge:
Florence Roche Elementary School in Groton has a new 110,000-square-foot school building and a new track and field field, according to the release. In Andover, West Elementary School Phase 1 is 190,000 square feet and is the largest project ever undertaken by the City of Andover. In the second phase, the project team will deliver new sports fields in 2025.
The Andover school project was $136 million and the Groton school was $72 million, Gilbane confirmed to Construction Dive.
Gilbane also broke ground on the 380,000-square-foot Northeast Metro Tech High School in Wakefield on Sept. 11, according to a news release from the builder.
Since opening in August 2023 at the Wakefield school, Gilbane has mined, processed or exported 138,000 cubic meters of rock; placed 5,725 cubic meters of concrete; and in just the last eight weeks, more than 3,000 tons of structural steel were lifted.
Gilbane believes the K-12 market will continue to invest in projects that prioritize the use of technology, energy efficiency and sustainability, according to Susan Tully, Gilbane’s K-12 market leader. Tully told Construction Dive that even with possible near-term hiccups, the market would remain resilient.
“The surge the market has experienced may flatten out as the deadline for stimulus-funded spending approaches, but these improvements remain front and center as schools plan their capital projects,” Tully said .
Other contractors are also gearing up for educational projects. On the higher building side, Messer’s Nick Proffitt said that after the work freeze caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the the pendulum swung the other way. Messer also said the pent-up demand for projects that have been planned or discussed is coming to fruition.
Many K-12 projects are much needed, such as the The average school building is almost half a century oldwhile a third have never had any renovations, replacements or additions.
Correction: Groton School cost $72 million and Andover School $136 million.
