Brookline, MA – Students at the Heath School were treated to a memorable interactive experience recently as Nauset Construction conducted a Topping Off ceremony at the school to mark the completion of the steel erection for a new classroom addition. Students signed the steel beam at the start of the operation, and a roar went up from the crowd when Raymond Masak, Owner’s Project Manager for the Town of Brookline, gave the thumbs up signal to the crane operator, who then hoisted the cross beam into place. “The kids just went crazy. It was a huge hit” said Nauset Project Executive Rob Nunez, who is overseeing the construction efforts at the school. “Now they all want to be steel erectors.”
The new addition will be a combination one and-two story wings and will house five new classrooms, a science lab, and a multi-purpose room which will be outfitted with athletic flooring. The renovation will include the replacement and expansion of the existing kitchen and cafeteria dining space. Additionally, the library will be expanded to facilitate the growing student population and added services, while the auditorium will see accessibility upgrades including a new lift to the stage. The building will be comprised of conventional concrete footings and walls with steel-framed construction. The building’s exterior facade will feature an aluminum storefront and brick-and-mortar masonry walls. Interior finishes include vinyl composite tile, stone tile, resinous flooring and carpeting.
The project is being built in phases in order to meet the challenges of working on school grounds while classes are in session. “Working in a highly sensitive area like an open and fully functioning school environment requires strict adherence to the safety procedures that we have developed and honed through our extensive work with both occupied school and medical facilities,” said Nunez. “Maintaining a safe environment for both clients and employees while performing high quality construction are joint priorities.” Progress on the new construction of a 14,000 square foot addition and the renovation within the current facility is progressing well, according to Nunez, and is both on time and within budget.