Farmington, Conn., September 7, 2012 – KBE Building Corporation is building – literally – an extensive portfolio of technical high schools, with seven vo-tech schools completed, under construction or in the planning phases. The three most current projects – Harvard Ellis Technical High School, Quinebaug Valley Middle College High School, and J.M. Wright Regional Vocational Technical School – started construction earlier this summer in Danielson and Stamford, CT.
KBE previously completed Kaynor Technical High School in Waterbury, Goodwin Technical High School in New Britain, and Norwich Technical High School in Norwich, all for the State of Connecticut. The firm also completed the Vernon Cleaves Vocational Agricultural Resource Center for the Town of Wallingford, CT’s Lyman Hall High School.
Now in construction, the $84 million Harvard Ellis project in Danielson encompasses 117,300 square-feet of renovation and a 68,000 square-foot addition. The addition will house a new gymnasium, classroom wing, media center, community café, and teaching kitchens for the culinary arts program. The first phase will include a maintenance and bus garage, as well as upgrades to the athletic fields. The project is designed by The S/L/AM Collaborative.
Also underway, the $22 million Quinebaug Valley project in Danielson is renovating 12,000 square-feet of the existing cafeteria and library and adding 38,000 additional square-feet. The addition will create space for six new classrooms, a half gym, an art room, a special education room, two science labs, a fitness room, three music rooms, a health suite, two collaborative activities rooms, student gathering spaces, and administrative and faculty offices. Over time, the Middle College plans to expand its student body from 105 students to 250 students. KBE is working with the architectural firm of Amenta/Emma.
The third project, the $50 million renovation to the J.M. Wright Regional Vocational Technical School in Stamford, will consist of a 202,400 square-foot renovation to the existing building. The construction will include an all new kitchen and cafeteria, a renovated lecture hall with new seating and state of the art lighting and sound systems, two new entrances to the building, an entire renovation of the mechanical and electrical systems, new interior finishes, installation of new windows and curtain wall systems, and Masonry restoration on the exterior walls of the building. This project is currently in the preconstruction phase, with construction planned for April 2013. KBE is working with architects Bianco Giolitto and Weston on the school renovations.
“We are so proud to be involved in this renovation and expansion process in all three of these schools in order to create a more conducive space for learning,” said Mike Kolakowski, President and CEO of KBE Building Corporation. “No one knows better than KBE and our subcontractors that the technical trades are essential to a thriving economy.”
The Harvard Ellis project will be completed in May 2015; the Quinebaug Valley project is planned for a December 2013 completion.