LYNN — The placing of the final steel beam of the new Pickering Middle School marked a major milestone for the city yesterday, highlighting a long-anticipated moment of celebration as the building is one step closer to welcoming students.
Construction of the new building began in July of 2024 and will replace the existing Pickering Middle School, which was built in 1905, according to the project’s website.
Scheduled to open in January 2028, the new Pickering Middle School will be a 5-story, 183,000-square-foot building located next to the existing school and Sisson Elementary. The building project, which will be funded in partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, is approximately 32% complete.
The beam, which now sits at the highest point of the building, was signed by key stakeholders and decorated with banners signed by students. It was topped with an American flag and an evergreen sapling symbolizing growth and good luck.
“These signatures become a permanent part of the building, a reminder that this school belongs to all of us. As we lift the beam into place, we celebrate teamwork, skill, and dedication that made this moment possible, and we look forward to the day when students will fill the hallways with learning, creativity, and a sense of community,” said Deputy Superintendent Ellen Fritz.
The topping off ceremony was attended by members of the state delegation, representing the city, Mayor Jared C. Nicholson, Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, along with school officials, students, and community members.
Nicholson said future generations in Lynn “will be able to look back and know that we went out and found solutions instead of sitting on excuses, and we got this school built, they’ll see that we created more seats to help our community grow.
“They’ll see that we create better facilities and better technology to help our students learn the right skills to thrive in the future, and more integration around the city to help our community thrive,” he said.
Goldberg said she previously toured the old Pickering building, where she saw the need for a new building.
“This was a school that I was going to make sure was going to happen,” she said.
Goldberg added, “We’re all here exuding pride at what’s been accomplished. And boy, we can’t wait till the groundbreaking.”
The building project is overseen by the Pickering School Building Committee, chaired by Nicholson and including a group of more than 20 educators, city and elected officials, teachers, parents, and representatives of the trades.
The new Pickering will include: optimized classroom sizes, multi-purpose gymnasium, cafeteria, black-box theater, learning stairs, educational roof deck, movement studios, media center, and small group learning areas.
The building will have high energy efficiency with access to natural light and exterior views. There will be separate outdoor play areas for Pickering and Sisson students, a new public playground and basketball court, and separate drop-off/pick-up areas for Sisson and Pickering.
“LeftField is excited to commemorate this important milestone, bringing us one step closer to a new Pickering Middle School,” said Lynn Stapleton, Senior Director of Leftfield, the project manager. “After more than 10 years of work to reach this point, we extend our sincere gratitude to those who have kept Pickering Middle School and the students of Lynn at the forefront and who have helped make this day possible.”
“The new Pickering will be an educational facility that our students and teachers need and deserve,” said Superintendent of Schools Molly Cohen. “The environment in which teaching and learning take place is important. This new school will allow us to provide expanded opportunities for education and enrichment.”
Additionally, an art contest to design a commemorative T-shirt was held at the Pickering and Sisson schools.
The winning design was submitted by Pickering sixth-grader Brayden Dupuis, who created an image of a crane and a building with a Tiger on it to reflect the school mascot, along with the words “Pickering — Strong as Steel.”
