Massachusetts Middle School Project Hits Midway Point
By SCN Staff
BELMONT, Mass.—On Friday, March 4, construction and development firm, Skanska, together with the Belmont Middle and High School Building Committee (BMHSBC), the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), and student representatives from Belmont Middle and High School, celebrated the topping out for Belmont Middle School. The design firm for the project is Perkins+Will.
Once completed in September, 2023, the brand-new Middle School will be an approximately 170,000-square-foot school building featuring dedicated classroom, recreation and administrative space. The Belmont Middle and High School buildings will share major facilities located in the High School, including the kitchen and café, auditorium, pool and Field House. The construction milestone marks a significant step forward in the progress for phase two, and the overall completion, of the transformative school project.
“At Skanska we pride ourselves on building what matters, and it’s especially rewarding to be celebrating this exciting milestone in person with the students and school representatives who will soon be learning and teaching out of the new buildings,” said Bryan Northrop, Executive Vice President of Skanska USA Building in Boston. “We look forward to delivering Belmont Middle School and completing the full school project so that future generations of Belmont students have a first-class environment in which they can receive an education and be inspired.”
Belmont school officials, students and local community members in attendance on Friday heard a short speaking program featuring Belmont High School Principal, Isaac Taylor; School Committee Chair Amy Checkoway; MSBA Chief Operating Officer, James MacDonald; Belmont Grades 7 & 8 Principal, Karla Koza; and Skanska Building Superintendent, Manny Hoyo. Attendees also enjoyed a performance of the National Anthem by the Belmont High School Marching Band before signing the symbolic final beam for the Middle School, representing the last structural component of the entire Belmont Middle and High School project. The in-person celebration was a welcome change from the virtual event that took place nearly two years ago when the High School building topped out in May 2020 during phase one of construction.
“Watching the final beam being raised over the Middle School signifying such an important milestone means so much to our students, school staff and the entire Belmont community,” said Bill Lovallo, Chair of the Belmont Middle and High School Building Committee. “We are thrilled to be one step closer to enjoying our beautiful new school building which will serve as a cornerstone for the community for many years to come.”
Phase one of construction at Belmont Middle and High School centered on the delivery of Belmont High School, a four-floor, 451,000-square-foot building for grades 7-12 which Skanska renovated and expanded to include new academic and science wings, media and dining areas, administrative health suites, and updates to the existing gymnasium and pool. The High School building was completed in September 2021 in time for the new school year.