Holyoke, MA – Fontaine Bros., in partnership with the City of Holyoke and the Massachusetts School Building Authority, recently celebrated the topping off of a new middle school in Holyoke.
Construction began on the new 2-story, 107,475sf structure in March, after the demolition of the former Peck Middle School was completed. The new school building is sandwiched between Holyoke High School, McKenzie Stadium, and a densely populated residential neighborhood. Construction is expected to be completed on the $85.5 million project in time to welcome students at the start of the 2025 school year.
Aerial view
Fontaine is the general contractor for the new middle school building. It is the fourth school Fontaine has constructed for the City of Holyoke dating back to the construction of Holyoke High School in 1964. “As the premier builder of public schools in the state of Massachusetts, we always take great pride in being invited back into a community where we have worked before. Our team is excited to deliver this school which will transform the delivery of middle school education in Holyoke,” said Mark Abdella, vice president of CM services for Fontaine.
The Holyoke City Council, the School Committee, and Superintendent of Schools Anthony Soto have all provided support for the new school, with Mayor Joshua Garcia, a lifelong resident of Holyoke and graduate of the public schools, championing the project since the beginning. “As Holyoke celebrates its 150th birthday, we look forward to what lies ahead. This new middle school and the energy surrounding it play such a key role. A quality education is core to any successful community. This project shows our commitment to the collective future of our young people,” said Garcia.
While 550 students per year will attend the new school, Fontaine and the City of Holyoke are also currently using the construction process as a learning tool. Recently, students from the carpentry and electrical shops at Holyoke High School Dean Campus toured the project site and learned about future career paths from the team. The students heard from Garcia, Soto, and members of the project team and the Carpenter’s Union. In the coming school year, students will continue to have opportunities to see the building take shape and witness the different career opportunities available in the construction field.
“One thing that’s different about our approach is the idea that engaging students while we are building the new school is an incredibly powerful way to expose them to future education and career pathways. These students are at an age where they are exploring and questioning everything including what lies ahead for them. We love tapping into that energy,” said Liz Wambui, director of diversity, inclusion, & community impact at Fontaine.
Mount Vernon Group Architects is the design firm and Anser Advisory is serving as the owner’s project manager on the project. American Environmental completed the demolition and site preparation.
