RIGHT ‘ON TRACK’

So far, so good as Lincoln High School renovation project meeting time, budget

LINCOLN — Despite some challenges and a few curve balls here and there, the $60 million Lincoln High School renovation project has not experienced any major delays and has remained within budget as it prepares to enter its second phase this year.

“The process has been a moving target with ebbs and flows and things have come up, but we’re on track,” said Lincoln High School Renovation Committee co-Chairman Arthur T.J. Russo.

The junior high school building dates back 61 years, and the high school was built 51 years ago. In 1964, an addition was built on to the senior high school, a connector was added in 1970, and a two-story addition was constructed in 1995. The goal of the project, school officials say, is to update the high school, make it much more energy efficient, safer, and improve the work environment for students and teachers alike.

Approved by voters in 2017, the $60 million project is now nearing the end of Phase 1, which began in 2018 and focused primarily on demolition of the 1970 connector wing and construction

of a new two-story addition that includes new classrooms, a new dining commons, administrative offices and media center. A second addition behind the high school will house the new technical education programs.

Those new areas will be furnished and move-in ready in June.

Phase 2, which will begin this year, will include renovation of existing facilities and the 1994 connector area of the school, demolition of the 1954 wing and renovating the auditorium.

The junior high wing was actually the first school facility built at Old River Road, since there was no town high school at the time. Back then high school students were sent to high schools in neighboring communities such as Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket.

By 1964, the town’s student population had grown enough to warrant the opening of the high school building at the site, and then by 1970 with continuing local growth, the need to complete the connector wing between the two existing buildings.

Colliers International, the project management firm, is overseeing the construction and renovation project. The construction company is Gilbane Inc.

“The building committee has been diligent to meet its responsibilities to keep the project under budget and on time and we’ve managed to do that,” said Lincoln High School Renovation Committee co-Chairwoman Julie Zitto.

The project is on schedule to be wrapped up in 2021.

“I’m hopeful that the most difficult decisions regarding the project are behind us,” Russo said. “A lot of the budget considerations have been worked through. It’s been a long road, but in the end we’re going to have a great project that will enhance the education of the students of Lincoln.”

“This will be a showpiece for the town of Lincoln for decades to come,” Zitto added.

“Our team at the school has worked really hard to maintain communication with all the stakeholders to make sure the project’s impact on students is minimal,” said Assistant Superintendent Kevin McNamara. “Everyone knows we’re going to have a real good outcome on the other end and that the town will have a facility everyone can be proud of.”

Ernest A. Brown photo Lincoln High School Principal Rob Mezzanotte stands outside the new wing under construction at Lincoln High School Wednesday afternoon. The new building will house 16 classrooms, 12 of which will be regular classrooms and four science classrooms, a new library, the dining commons and offices for administration and guidance. The new wing is expected to be completed in April, but could take longer, according to school officials. Phase II of the project, which includes renovations to the gymnasium, will be completed in 2021.

Joseph B. Nadeau photos Above, signs of construction can be seen in late August as parents and students gathered for the annual Freshman Roar Night. Below, work on the school back in its beginning stages of May, 2019.