LYNN — The Pickering Middle School project continues to move forward at a steady pace, with the building committee reporting significant progress in both structural completion and internal systems installation.
During their Wednesday evening update, project leaders highlighted that the development is now approximately 32% complete, reflecting consistent advancement across multiple phases.
Financially, the project remains largely on track.
“To date, we’ve committed 96% of our revised budget,” project director of LeftField Lynn Stapleton reported, noting that the total includes additional funding for ground improvements. Of that amount, 38% has already been spent.
Despite an earlier delay affecting cash flow, leaders emphasized that spending trends are aligning closely with original projections.
“We are tracking fairly close to what the projections would have been had we started a year before,” Stapleton stated, adding that completion is still anticipated for mid-year.
From a construction standpoint, progress has been particularly visible in recent weeks. Structural steel installation has been completed, marking a key milestone.
“Topping off installation of structural steel, the crane is now demobilized,” assistant project manager of Consigli Construction, Jonathan Siebel, explained.
Work has since shifted toward decking, detailing, and concrete placement across multiple floors.
Concrete operations are advancing rapidly. The second and third floors have been largely completed, with only sections above the gym remaining. Work on the fourth and fifth floors is ongoing, with the first portion of the fifth floor poured late last week and additional pours scheduled.
“We will be pouring another portion of the fifth floor tomorrow,” Siebel said, highlighting the pace of progress.
In parallel, critical infrastructure systems are being installed and finalized. Underground plumbing and electrical utilities have been completed in several areas, inspected, and approved.
“That has now all been backfilled, inspected, and approved. So we’re all good there,” Siebel noted regarding one section.
Similar progress has been made in the gym, kitchen, and cafeteria areas, where complex coordination was required.
“This has now been completed as well… we have now been backfilled, inspected as of Tuesday,” he added.
Additional site work is also underway, including utility installations on the north side and preparation for ramps and staircases connecting different parts of the campus. Crews are aiming to pave a temporary road in the coming weeks to improve site logistics and reduce congestion.
Interior progress has begun as well, signaling a transition into the next phase of construction. Framing crews have started installing exterior clips on the second floor and are expected to continue upward floor by floor.
Fireproofing teams have also mobilized and are “chasing one another up the building,” reflecting a coordinated workflow among trades.
“They’re moving, making great progress… and that’s kind of the flow of this at this point,” Siebel stated.
Looking ahead, several near-term milestones are expected. Structural steel detailing is projected to be completed by the end of April, while under-slab utilities are scheduled to wrap up shortly. The first slab-on-grade placement is set to begin later this month.
Despite the steady progress, project leaders acknowledged occasional disruptions, particularly related to construction hours.
While standard work typically ends at 6 p.m., certain tasks, such as concrete pouring, cannot be paused once started.
“If the workers would stop at six o’clock… they’re not gonna be able to finish that slab,” senior project manager of LeftField Craig DiCarlo explained, noting that these instances are rare and efforts are made to notify the public in advance.
Beyond construction, the project has also reached symbolic milestones. A recent topping-off ceremony celebrated the completion of the building’s structural frame and drew strong participation from stakeholders.
It was described as “a big success,” highlighting the collaboration among city officials, project teams, and students.
With the project now just past its overall halfway point and construction accelerating, the committee remains optimistic about the timeline and continued progress in the months ahead.
