Friday, June 12, 2020

Memorial Project Update

The Memorial School Project continues to move forward on time and on budget for a Fall opening of the classroom wing.  Although it is exciting to think about the move this fall, it is sad to say goodbye to the school that served us well for so long. 


It has been a busy year for the Memorial School Building Project.  Following voter approval of the $52 million project in Essex and Manchester in November 2018, work began by JCJ Architects on more detailed design specifications to guide construction.  Permitting with the Conservation Commission, Planning Board, building inspector, and many other local agencies was also completed successfully in the spring of 2019.  Immediately after the school year ended in June, WT Rich, the project construction manager, began demolition of the southwest wing in order to make room for construction of the new, two-story classroom wing.  Foundations were poured in September, steel was erected in October and November, concrete floors were poured in December and interior framing of the classroom wing was completed in January. Soon after, plumbing and electrical infrastructure was added and exterior masonry and window installation began.  Overall, the classroom wing is on schedule to be completed in time for students to move in at the start of the 2020-2021 school year.



The WT Rich team has taken advantage of the COVID-19 school shutdown, and advance the second phase of demolition which is scheduled to begin in early June.  This will help to facilitate the timely completion and the move into the new academic wing.    Construction of common/administrative spaces (e.g., gym, cafeteria, main office) will begin in the fall of 2020 with an anticipated completion date of summer 2021.  The final phase of demolition, for the old gym and cafeteria is slated for summer 2021, which will make space for additional parking front of the school and is expected to be completed in late fall of 2021.