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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