SAUGUS — Members of the School Building Committee conducted a site visit of the Town’s new Middle-High School site earlier this week, amid several exciting construction milestones.
The committee learned about and admired the extensive site work, the building’s concrete foundation, and the first series of erected steel columns and beams outlining a portion of the structure.
Since work began on the project a few months ago, nearly 2,000 linear feet of underground piping has been installed, which includes water, sewer, drain, and fire protection lines. Approximately 1,770 cubic yards of foundation concrete has been placed, and 269 steel pieces have been erected at a total weight of 211 tons.
“This is an extremely exciting, historic milestone in the process of building a new school,” Town Manager Scott Crabtree said in a statement. “It is wonderful to see the excavation work, concrete placement, and steel columns going up and to watch this vision turn into a reality after years of collaborating and working together with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the School Building Committee, the residents of Saugus, and our project team.”
The town has partnered the MSBA and a highly qualified team of project managers, architects, and construction managers-at-risk to construct a grades 6-12, new middle-high school. Throughout the past several years, the town has completed MSBA-required phases, including the Eligibility Period, Forming the Project Team, Feasibility Study, Schematic Design Phase, Funding the Project, and Detailed Design.
Saugus is currently in the Construction Phase of the project with the MSBA. During this phase, the community will continue to collaborate with the MSBA to report on the progress of the project, while remaining on schedule and within budget. The new school is slated to open in September 2020.
Construction began on the site following a groundbreaking ceremony July 17, which was attended by local and state officials, representatives from the MSBA, town employees, the project team, and hundreds of Saugus residents.
“I am elated to see the steel go up, as this is a huge landmark in our project,” said School Committee and School Building Committee Chairwoman Jeannie Meredith. “I am very impressed with the construction team, which has consistently been on-task, on-schedule, and on-budget. I want to thank our project team for extending the invitation to the full Building Committee to view this early but monumental progress, and for their continued transparency and thoroughness throughout this process.”
When complete, the new middle-high school will be 270,000 total square feet, including a 12,000 square-foot gymnasium and capacity for 1,360 students in grades 6-12. It will house state-of-the-art science labs and technology classrooms, fine and performing arts classrooms and a 750-seat auditorium. In addition, plans include a new sports complex and outdoor track, walking paths, outdoor classrooms, and student gardens.
“Our new middle-high school, in connection with the school district’s new 21st century education plan, is on track to change the way education is delivered and help the school district achieve its goal to become a top-rated school district in Massachusetts,” said Crabtree. “This investment, which was supported by the residents of Saugus, will continue to prioritize education within the community.”
For more information on the project, contact the Town Manager’s office at 781-231-4111.
