CRANSTON, R.I.—Representatives from Boston-based architect Finegold Alexander Architects were on hand recently for the groundbreaking of Gladstone Elementary School, an entirely new ground-up educational facility. Finegold personnel were joined by Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins, Cranston Superintendent of Schools Jeannine Nota-Masse, Principal Amy Vachon and Assistant Principal Amy Corso-Latos, as well as officials from the Rhode Island Department of Education.

“Finegold Alexander has been eager to break ground on the new Gladstone Elementary School and [we are] excited the day has finally come,” Finegold Alexander Principal Regan Shields Ives said at the groundbreaking. “This innovative design creates opportunities for each child to learn in a unique environment that suits their learning needs, and we are honored to be a part of this transformational project.”

The new Gladstone Elementary School, located in the Cranston suburb of Providence, will consolidate under one roof the existing Gladstone and Arlington Elementary Schools, for a total complement of some 800 students. Finegold Alexander’s design for the 100,000-square-foot, three-story elementary school features six individual Learning Communities, each of which offers a suite of interconnected rooms dedicated to a specific discipline. In addition, several Curiosity Centers will focus on art and music—while linking together the Learning Communities on each floor.

On the school’s first floor, communal gathering spaces in the cafeteria and other areas are meant to foster a sense of community and social interaction for students, teachers, parents and other visitors to the new Gladstone.

Finegold Alexander’s plans entail a compact edifice whose layout is meant to promote energy efficiency and utilize the site’s natural topography to reduce the construction’s overall carbon footprint. And by positioning the school to take advantage of as much sun as possible, the interior will be blessed with natural light throughout the day.

For the school’s exterior, Finegold Alexander has designed three outdoor learning areas, several sports fields, a community garden and multiple playgrounds.

Finegold Alexander is working in conjunction with Providence’s own Gilbane Building Company on the educational project, which is anticipated to be completed sometime during the summer of 2025.

“Designing Gladstone Elementary School has been an inspiring journey of collaboration and innovation,” Finegold Alexander Principal Christopher Lane said in a subsequent statement. “Finegold Alexander is proud to contribute to the evolution of educational spaces by creating an environment that fosters curiosity, engagement, and growth.”

Finegold Alexander has received numerous awards for its work on both public and private K-12 construction projects throughout New England.

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BOSTON—General contracting firm Gilbane Building Company has broken ground on Wentworth Institute of Technology’s new athletic field. Representatives of WIT recently joined personnel from preconstruction provider CD Smith and architect STV for an official turning over of the first shovelful of dirt, where the athletic field will exist next to a new parking structure.

This is the same project team that Gilbane utilized at WIC’s Center for Engineering, Innovation, and Sciences building, constructed in 2019. In a statement about the work, Mike O’Brien, senior vice president and business unit leader for Gilbane’s offices in Massachusetts, said that his firm was pleased to be back working with WIC a second time.

“In delivering this project, we will employ the latest advances in construction, safety, sustainability and innovation,” O’Brien said, “while also providing economic opportunities for local and diverse trade partners, as well as Boston residents.”

Cheryl Aaron, WIT’s director of athletics, said at the groundbreaking that the athletic field marks the next phase in the school’s development as a student athletic powerhouse.

“Our current and future student athletes will have the opportunity to practice and compete in a new facility that meets their competitive needs on a regulation turf field, with new team locker room spaces, an expanded sports medicine clinic, and other amenities that support their development,” Aaron said.

The soccer and softball fields of the new field, when completed next year, will be up to NCAA standards. A future expansion will allow for several hundred additional sports spectators.

Gilbane has been in business since 1870, and continues to be a privately held, family firm. In addition to its New England business, the contractor operates in 45 total offices around the world.

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ORLANDO—Construction and facility management firm Gilbane Building Company, based in Providence, R.I., is getting its place in the sun as its Florida offices are working to renovate Orange Technical College.

Gilbane has been tapped by the college to provide construction management for renovations at the main campus of OTC.  According to information recently unveiled by Gilbane, the company will renovate the entirety of the educational building’s 135,000 square feet of space.  Gilbane is currently deep into phase 1, which is happening while instruction continues apace inside the five-story building.

The scope of work entails both demolition of older spaces as well as updating other areas.  Entirely new amenities will entail training rooms, technology labs, as well as practical classrooms dedicated to such specialties as dental hygiene, nursing and emergency care.  The reimagined OTC will also be offering a new campus store, conference spaces, administration offices as well as examination rooms.

In a statement released by Gilbane, Area Manager Shane Burnsed spoke highly of the ongoing partnership his firm has built with OTC.

“We look forward to delivering campus enhancements that serve students, teachers, and our local community and help grow our workforce in our local area,” he said.

If all goes according to plan, the renovations and updates will be ready sometime in the fall of 2023. Architectural firm Harvard Jolly is reported leading the design elements of the project.

Orlando Technical College has been operating continuously since 1933, and now encompasses five campuses where students can learn trades in the classroom as well as in practical and professional settings.

Gilbane Building Company, founded in 1870, offers preconstruction and construction management services that include design-build and facility management.  In addition to its offices in Rhode Island and Florida, the contractor hosts over 40 other offices around the world.  Gilbane is a consistent leader in school construction throughout the Sunshine State.

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—The University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson, is taking yet another step into the future thanks to its 21st century School of Data Science. The new educational building broke ground this fall, with a projected opening for early in 2024.

In late October, dignitaries of the University of Virginia were on hand for a groundbreaking ceremony, and turned over the token first shovelfuls of dirt for the 14-acre plot that will one day host the data science center. The 60,000-square-foot project also entails a new performing arts center and other educational buildings.

Across four stories of educational space at the data center, students will learn about technology with state-of-the-art “active learning” classrooms, where they will converse and learn about “big data,” which has become ever more important across all disciplines. Data science utilizes scientific methods, algorithms and other techniques of inquiry to glean information from the large picture big data has to offer.

Other areas that needed to be constructed included faculty areas and meeting and research spaces. The new building will also have “porches” that extend out over a pond adjacent to the data center, which will allow students to congregate outdoors as the weather allows.

Further work entails constructing a new hotel adjacent to the school building, a parking garage as well as a conference center on the plot of land, which is dubbed the Emmet-Ivy parcel.

The design team for the project entails architectural firm VMDO, the executive architect and architect of record, design architect Hopkins and ​​general contractor Gilbane Building Company. According to the university, Merrill and Jaffary Woodriff of Charlottesville’s Quantitative Foundation donated $120 million to the new school, making it the largest such gift in the school’s history. The data center requires $33 million of that sum for its construction.

“From an academic perspective, there is an explosive interest in Data Science courses at UVA; it is predicted that the majority of students will take at least one data science course during their time at UVA,” Lauren Shirley, an associate with VMDO Architects, said in a statement emailed to School Construction News. “Currently the School is operating out of a very small space and they are growing rapidly. This new building will provide much-needed teaching, research, and office space for the School, as well as providing a home for Data Science students, and a representation of the School’s identity.”

Continued Shirley: “This building will also set an architectural precedent for the school’s new Emmet-Ivy Corridor. This building’s design strikes the right balance of current and contextual, something that was important to all involved. It is modern in its lightness and transparency, minimal in its detailing and structural expression, while still fitting in with its more classical campus context.”

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CLEVELAND— The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) recently awarded LEED Gold certification to Cleveland State University’s Washkewicz Hall, home to the College of Engineering.

Completed in 2017, Washkewicz Hall is the sixth building on CSU’s campus to receive LEED certification.

“Washkewicz Hall’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize our buildings and communities by providing everyone with access to healthy, green and high performing buildings. Cleveland State’s most recent certification is a prime example of how the innovative work of project teams can create local solutions that contribute to making a global difference.”

Sustainable features of Washkewicz Hall include the following:

• Site utilization that optimizes green space to reduce stormwater runoff;
• Low-flow toilets and faucets that reduce water consumption by 30 percent;
• Energy-efficient mechanical systems;
• 70 percent of electricity from renewable sources;
• 25 percent recycled steel in building materials;
• Light-colored roof material to reflect heat and maintain a cooler temperature within the building;
• Materials, paints, flooring and wall materials contain no- or low-VOCs for improved indoor air quality.

CBLH and Harley Ellis Devereaux (HED) led design and engineering on this approximately $46 million project. Gilbane was the construction manager at risk.

“[Throughout construction, we] used the building as a learning tool, involving students a faculty with regular tours and monthly bulletins about what work was transpiring,” explained Travis Okel, project manager, Gilbane Building Company.

“The team set out with the goal of achieving LEED Gold certification, so knowing that the process of design and construction reached that ambitious target is very exciting,” said Jennifer McMillin, CSU director of sustainability, in a press release.

“As an institution of higher education, CSU has an opportunity to educate students about environmental sustainability both in the classroom and in the campus environment. Designing and operating green buildings is one of our opportunities to demonstrate our commitment to energy and water conservation.”

Other LEED certified buildings at CSU include Julka Hall (LEED Gold), Center for Innovation in Medical Professions (LEED Silver), Euclid Commons (LEED Silver), the CSU Student Center (LEED Silver) and the CSU Recreation Center (LEED Certified).

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Tomball, Texas—Several projects in the Tomball Independent School District’s $275 million bond program are moving forward, with two of the projects—Grand Oaks Elementary School and a new agricultural science project center—scheduled to open in August. Tomball is part of the Houston metropolitan area.

Tomball ISD is considered one of the fastest-growing districts in Texas. The bond package provided funds for numerous new facilities, including an elementary school, a junior high school, a district-wide athletic complex, a natatorium for Tomball Memorial High School, and an agricultural science project center for Tomball High School.

“We have faced various challenges from delays in land acquisition to changes in building code regulations after Hurricane Harvey to issues related to county building permits,” said JP Grom, vice president of Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN), which is serving as the program manager.

“Despite these challenges, we are on course to completing several major projects over the next 14 months. These facilities will serve Tomball ISD students for the next 50 to 75 years and provide them the environment and infrastructure needed to succeed in the 21st century.”

Added Tomball ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora., “We are excited about the progress of our projects and for the opening of Grand Oaks Elementary and our agricultural science project center in August. It has been wonderful partnering with LAN during this time as our projects continue to run smoothly despite many unforeseen challenges we have faced along the way.”

Three of the biggest projects in the bond program— Grand Oaks Elementary School, Grand Lakes Junior High School and the district-wide athletic stadium and community center (no official name yet)—are part of the new greenfield master planned Elmer and Dorothy Beckendorf Educational Complex located at the northwest corner of Cypress Rosehill Road and SH 99 (Grand Parkway).

The three projects, which broke ground in May 2019, were designed by PBK Architects and are being constructed by the Gilbane Building Company. Infrastructure support for the entire complex will be provided by new water and wastewater treatment plants owned by the district.

The approximately $24 million Grand Oaks Elementary School will relieve Wildwood and Lakewood Elementary Schools. The 112,186-square-foot, single-story facility will accommodate 900 students from grades K-4. The new elementary school is scheduled to be completed in August.

The $43.26 million Grand Lakes Junior High School will relieve Willow Wood Junior High School. The 228,346-square-foot, single-story building will house 1,500 students in grades 7 and 8. The school will also have its own football stadium for track and field events, as well as a football and soccer practice field. The new junior high school is scheduled for a July 2021 completion.

The $37.29 million new district-wide athletic complex will serve Tomball ISD’s football, soccer, arts and band programs. Scheduled to be completed in May 2021, the stadium will seat 10,000 spectators with a 12,200-square-foot press box and accommodate 3,000 parking spaces. At the north end of the stadium is a two-level, 25,000-square-foot community facility with a conference center, sports locker/dressing rooms, athletic training, kitchen and administration areas for sporting events. The current football stadium has 7,500 seats and 2,000 parking spaces.

The district is also building a new natatorium on the Tomball Memorial High School campus. This 26,000-square-foot facility will house a 25-yard stretch pool with an 8-lane competitive swimming area and a diving area, separated by a floating bulkhead. Support spaces include locker rooms for athletes and coaches, a training room, offices and associated equipment rooms. Stantec Inc. is the architect and Gamma Construction Company is the general contractor. The $10.56 million natatorium will be completed this December.

A new agricultural science project center is also under construction at the Tomball High School campus. This center will house an agricultural barn and support facilities for the school’s agricultural programs, and an instructional nature center with two classrooms measuring 900 square feet each. The $4.97 million facility, which was designed by VLK Architects, will be completed in August. Sterling Structures, Inc. is the project’s general contractor.

In addition to the new facilities, the bond program includes an expansion project that will increase Tomball Memorial High School’s capacity from 2,250 to 3,000 students. The expansion, totaling 155,000 square feet, will increase the number of classrooms, science labs, Center for Adaptive Technology in Education (CATE) labs, gymnasiums and provide more space for performing arts and dining areas. Approximately 54,000 square feet of athletic and performing arts areas and CATE instructional areas will also be renovated. Texas-IBI Group, Inc. is the architect and ICI Construction, Inc. is constructing the project. The $36.5 million project will be completed next June.

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Lexington, MA.—In early October, officials from Minuteman Regional Vocational High School,  along with representatives from the state of Massachusetts, joined Gilbane Building Company, Kaestle Boos Architects, teachers and students to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new $145-million school.

Completed a year ahead of schedule, the two-story, 257,000-square-foot facility accommodates 628 students and has been designed to foster collaboration between academic and vocational classes.

The building itself is bifurcated in two—one half housing the Engineering, Construction and Trades Academy, which offers such pathways as carpentry or web development; and the other half devoted to the Life Sciences and Services Academy where students can explore careers in cosmetology or biotechnology.

Superintendent Dr. Edward Bouquillon commended the team on a job well done.

“Together, we have built a school that is second to none—a 21st-century vocational-technical high school, founded on the principles of collaboration, integration and supporting the whole learner.”

Connecting the two wings—or academies—is the student union; a naturally lit, open-air atrium, complete with an outdoor courtyard that provides students from various learning tracts with a common space to gather, collaborate and share ideas.

The new facility boasts traditional classrooms and vocational spaces, as well as security features, such as secured vestibules and shooter detection capabilities.

“Minuteman High School is a true showcase of the region’s investment and commitment in not only its students, but in the future of these communities and their workforces,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president and business unit leader for Gilbane in Massachusetts.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the entire team; their focus on collaboration and adherence to Lean principals allowed us to deliver this landmark project to the students and the communities an entire school year ahead of schedule.”

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LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.—The approximately $27 million addition to Stevenson High School’s East Building in Lincolnshire, Illinois—approximately 33 miles from Chicago— was completed in time for the start of the 2019-20 term in September.

Wight & Company was the architect, and Gilbane Building Co. served as the general contractor on this project that included adding 56,900 square feet to the previously 870,000-square-foot school that was built in 1965. Funded by loans, district savings and a state grant, most of the rooms in the addition are classrooms.

Far from traditional educational spaces, the table and chairs inside each room are on wheels to encourage small group work. Each room also contains multiple digital screens, in addition to individual temperature controls and lights that can be dimmed or brightened.

The additional classrooms throughout the school also have different uses. For example, the first and second floors contain classrooms that can be used for a variety of subjects. The third floor primarily houses specially designed science labs.

The roof features gardens and a greenhouse that will be used by science, art, foods and special education classes.

“We’re going to get a lot of use out of it,” said Stevenson spokesman Jim Conrey told the Daily Herald.

Shatterproof glass panes—which lets in more natural light—also run from floor to ceiling and separate the classrooms from the hallways. They also serve as security role in this era of mass shootings.

The primary purpose of the glass is to protect students from bullets or other objects,” said Conrey.

“Shatterproof glass includes layers of polycarbonate that, when struck by a projectile such as a bullet, would prevent it from exiting the other side. The glass basically absorbs the energy of the projectile upon impact, significantly slows its momentum and keeps the object within the glass layers.”

On the first floor, a courtyard with brick walkways, plants that are native to the areas, and curving concrete benches was built to draw students outdoors.

“It’s just meant to be a nice space where kids can catch a breath of fresh air if they want,” Conrey said.

Approximately 4,400 teens are expected at Stevenson this year, up from about 4,300 last year. Officials predict the student population will exceed 4,600 by the 2025-26 term.

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NEW BREMEN, Ohio—Construction is underway at a new elementary school for New Bremen Local Schools in New Bremen, Ohio.

Officials from New Bremen Local School District, Gilbane Building Company, Garmann/Miller & Associates, Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and students celebrated the official groundbreaking for the new elementary facility earlier this year that will provide a modern learning environment for students in grades K-6.

Gilbane Building Company is serving as construction manager for the new 71,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art elementary facility. Connected to the existing high school, all classrooms will be grouped by grade level with extended learning center spaces outside of the traditional classrooms. Special education rooms will be spaced throughout the academic areas. Natural daylight will be a primary emphasis in each of the K-6 classrooms,

“Gilbane is extremely excited to be a part of the New Bremen School project team,” said Matt Neimeyer, Gilbane Building Company project manager.

“However, our team members are especially excited. We have three team members that live in the district or in a neighboring district. And, let me tell you, in construction, that does not happen often. Our team has a vested interest in the success of the project and will remain in the community for years to come and are excited to build in the community we live in! We look forward to getting this project started and continuing our engagement with the district and in the community.”

The addition and renovations to the new elementary school will provide a modern learning environment. The student dining area will be used as a multi-purpose space with a sports floor. The media center, computer lab, art and music rooms surround the interior courtyard, which will be used as a safe outdoor learning space.

The project also includes additional renovations to the existing high school, parking lot repairs and abatement/demolition of the existing elementary school. Exterior materials will include a masonry veneer and standing seam metal room to complement the existing high school.

The completion date is slated for August 2020.

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FALLS CHURCH, Va.—The design-build team of Gilbane Building Company, Stantec and Quinn Evans Architects recently celebrated the groundbreaking of the new $120 million George Mason High School in Falls Church. The groundbreaking marks an important milestone in a process that began a decade ago with conversations in the Falls Church community around building the first new high school in over 50 years.

“The groundbreaking for George Mason High School is an exciting milestone for the Falls Church community,” said Peter Noonan, superintendent, Falls Church City Public Schools. “We are committed to building the creative and academic capacity in each of our students and this tremendous new learning environment will truly serve our community for decades to come.”

The 28-acre site presented a unique challenge. With an occupied high school and middle school already on-site, as well as athletic fields, community resources, and 10 acres reserved for future development, the team focused on a vertical design to maximize the project footprint. Stantec designed a seven-story solution that unifies the site, integrates the campus with the nearby community, offers robust safety and security measures, and resolves significant traffic and parking issues. The new 300,000 square foot high school will provide a comprehensive, flexible, and future-ready learning environment for 1,200 students with growth capacity to 1,500 students.

“The community shared their vision and we are fortunate to play a role in helping them realize this next chapter for George Mason High School,” said Derk Jeffrey, senior principal, Stantec. “The new campus will raise the bar academically, strengthen connections with the local community, and pave the way for the mixed-use development to come.”

The project is a collaboration between Gilbane, Stantec, and Quinn Evans. Gilbane is the design builder, providing design oversight, preconstruction management, and construction implementation. Stantec is the architect of record, providing planning/programming, architectural design, interior design, FF&E, and construction administration. Quinn Evans is serving as an affiliated architect.

“Over the last year our team has facilitated hundreds of meetings with stakeholders to understand the needs of the community and its’ students,” said Jennifer Macks, senior project executive, Gilbane Building Company. “We were able to leverage the design-build process to successfully capture end user needs and expedite project delivery with one goal in mind – delivering a school the community can be proud of for years to come.”

The state-of-the-art building is designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification and is Net Zero Energy Ready. Construction of the high school is expected to be complete by December 2020, while sitework will continue until August 2021.

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