New Middleborough High School opens next week
MIDDLEBORO — Two years and a month after the beginning of construction, the new Middleborough High School is ready for occupation.
“We are very pleased with the work of the design, management, and construction teams, and the end result is a truly lovely and very useful facility that should make the town proud,” said Rob Desrosiers, Chair of the High School Building Committee.
Spring break is this week; by next week, April 27, students, faculty, and staff will be inside the new building, though still on a cohort hybrid schedule for most until the state decides on a timetable for grades 9-12, which will probably be in May.
As explained by Christy Murphy, Project Manager, the building will be functioning and safe for occupation, but not 100% complete.
“It’s not the soft landing we were hoping for, but it was an incredible team effort,” she said at the April 14 School Building Committee meeting.
As previously reported, the timetable suffered a 3-month delay due to Covid-related factors, like crew members and sub-contractors getting sick, the overall slowing down of productivity due to workforce shortages and new guidelines, and delays in the arrival of ordered materials.
One main feature that won’t be ready for opening is the green house.
Otherwise, Murphy said the remaining work is “a series of small things that most people would not notice or know that won’t be ready on day one. The certificate of substantial completion will list these items, including everything on the punchlist that will likely be completed over the summer.”
Despite the obstacles, the whole project remains under budget. The original approved budget for the project was $103 million, $83 million of which is just for the actual construction of the building.
According to Murphy, the project is about $2.5-$3 million under budget, though there are still risks of higher-than-expected costs for the remaining sitework and demolition of the old building. $511,000 dollars in Covid-related expenses (sanitation supplies, personal protective equipment, etc.) has also been submitted for federal reimbursement through the CARES Act
Regardless of the remaining work, the building looks immaculate inside and outside. The school population will likely first be drawn to the central area of the building: the rotunda. This three-story space, complete with spiral staircases and chandeliers in the ceiling, is the main point of traffic in the high school as all routes start and end here.
Other features of note are the Library, the Learning Commons, a 2-story band practice room, multiple Collaboration Labs, the TV Studio space, the gymnasium, the Athletic Hall of Fame kiosk, the Performing Arts Lobby, and the Black Box Theater.
The Wayne M. Caron Memorial Auditorium for the high school will be able to house 740 people.
Principal Paul Branagan states “a true highlight of the new school are the mural walls that celebrate the history of our community through major themes of history. These murals will be a celebration to the rich history of this wonderful community.”
Pandemic measures will still be in place, at least for the rest of the school year.
As Desrosiers explained, “some areas will be temporarily repurposed to spread the students out to meet Covid requirements, such as the band room, gymnasium and auditorium.”
Orientation for students and faculty for the new building will commence the week of opening. Branagan said faculty, staff, and some students have had opportunities to tour the new building since March.
Branagan also stated the April 27 opening day and first week for students “will focus on celebration, tours of the new school and getting settled into their new home.”
Superintendent Brian Lynch stated at the April 15 School Committee meeting non-students and non-employees of the high school won’t be allowed to tour the school until the middle of summer, when the land is done being a construction site.
Originally established in 1971, the old high school building held its last class last week.
“Fifty years. End of an era,” said Rich Young, School Committee Chair, at the April 15 meeting.
The old building has to be relinquished by the School District once and for all on May 10 to the general contractors for the project, Fontaine Brothers, in order to begin the process of hazardous waste remediation of the site. The demolition itself will begin sometime in mid-June with the intention of being complete by early August. The space of the old building will be turned into a parking lot.
Lynch and members of the School Committee want to be able to host some final tours and walkthroughs of the old building before it goes away forever.
“Fifty classes graduated there. It means a lot to people. We want to recognize this relationship to the high school,” said Lynch.
The School Committee plans to announce dates for this “Lights Out Ceremony” soon.
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