Dive Brief:
- Providence, Rhode Island-based Gilbane Building Co. has gone back to school with the announcement of milestones on three K-12 projects across Massachusetts, according to the contractor.
- The construction firm celebrated the on-time opening of two schools — one in Groton, the other in Andover — alongside the topping out of a high school in the Boston suburb of Wakefield.
- “These new facilities offer premier 21st-century learning environments for some of our state’s youngest learners, featuring sustainability components that the districts can truly be proud of,” said Justin MacEachern, business leader for Gilbane in Massachusetts, in the release.
Dive Insight:
The Florence Roche Elementary School in Groton features a new, 110,000-square-foot school building and a new track and athletic field, per the release. In Andover, West Elementary School’s Phase 1 is 190,000 square feet, and is the largest project ever undertaken by the town of Andover. The second phase will see the project team deliver new athletic fields in 2025.
The Andover school project was $136 million, and the Groton school was $72 million, Gilbane confirmed to Construction Dive.
Gilbane also topped out the 380,000-square-foot Northeast Metro Tech High School in Wakefield on Sept. 11, according to a news release from the builder.
Since breaking ground in August 2023 on the Wakefield school, Gilbane has blasted, processed or exported 138,000 cubic yards of rock; placed 5,725 cubic yards of concrete; and in just the last eight weeks, erected over 3,000 tons of structural steel.
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 potential near-term hiccups, the market would remain resilient.
“The surge that the market has experienced may flatten as the deadline for stimulus-funded expenditures nears, but these enhancements continue to be at the forefront as schools plan their capital projects,” Tully said.
Other contractors are also gearing up for education projects. On the higher ed side, Messer’s Nick Proffitt said that following the freeze in work caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the pendulum was swinging 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 badly needed, as the average school building is nearly a half-century old, while a third have never had any renovations, replacements or additions.
Correction: The Groton school cost $72 million, and the Andover school cost $136 million.
