CTA Construction Finishes School Projects for Start of Academic Year

Sept. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- WALTHAM, Mass.  – CTA Construction Co. Inc. recently completed four school building projects, making the new facilities available for students and teachers to start the academic year. The Waltham-based general contractor handed over the keys on school projects in Billerica, Burlington, Tewksbury and Weston, while starting construction this year in four other school districts.  

“At CTA Construction, we understand the importance of meeting our customers’ deadlines, and no deadline is more important to us than the start of the school year.  From the very beginning of each school project, we keep our eye on being ready to turn over a well-built facility when the time comes to open the doors for students,” said Patrick Tompkins, cofounder and principal of CTA Construction, which has built more than 45 schools valued at $750 million in the past decade.

The four CTA-built projects open for the new school year are:

Tewksbury Memorial High School – The $52-million school covers 219,000 square feet.  It features an impressive two-story, glass entryway and a full performing arts center with lighting, sound and rigging systems. The project architect is Symmes Maini & McKee Associates.  A second phase of the project includes demolition of the existing, adjacent 175,000 square foot school for playing fields and parking.  The building was occupied last month, and total project completion is slated for fall of next year.

Weston High School Science Wing – A new science wing at Weston High School, built to meet LEED Silver standards, opened for classes last month.  The $9.4 million project added 23,000 square feet of science labs that meet environmental standards and have state-of-the-art safety features. Overall, the project added seven new classrooms and expanded two existing rooms.  In addition, a new fire suppression system now protects the entire existing school. Project architect is Dore & Whittier Architect, Inc.

Parker Elementary School – The new $22 million school in Billerica is 89,000 square feet with a red-brick exterior and opened for the start of the 2012-2013 school year.  The project architect is Symmes Maini & McKee Associates.  The second phase of the project includes the abatement and demolition of the existing school to make way for parking, and detention systems as well as a new playing field.  

Marshall Simonds Middle School – The $21.5 million project includes construction of a 37,000 square foot addition to include science rooms, classrooms, media center, administrative offices, and a music suite.  Renovations to the 118,000 square foot existing building included a new kitchen, bathrooms, accessibility code requirements, roofing, fire protection, plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems.  The addition and the majority of the renovation were turned over for September.  Minor renovation work will continue through the end of 2012.  The project architect is KBA Architects, Inc.

In addition to finishing these four projects, CTA recently began work on four new school building projects across Massachusetts.  They are:

Douglas – A new 83,100 square foot elementary school and the renovation of an 88,245 square foot middle school are underway in this $36.2 million project that kicked off last spring.  The project also includes construction of a new roadway and athletic fields.  CTA’s winning bid saved taxpayers $2.6 million off the proposed budget. The project architect is DiNisco Design Partnership, Ltd.

Vinson-Owen Elementary School – The new 78,000 square foot school in Winchester broke ground in the spring.  The $20.7 million, three-story, brick-clad school is being built on the site of its predecessor, which was demolished last year.  Designed by Tappe Associates of Boston, the school will feature a classroom wing, art, music and computer rooms, a media center, gymnasium, cafeteria, offices and multiple playgrounds.

Fairhaven – CTA broke ground last month on a $19 million elementary school in Fairhaven that will serve 370 students in grades K-5.  The new school, part of the state’s Model School Program estimated to save a year of design time, will replace the Wood and Rogers Elementary Schools.  The project architect is HMFH Architects, Inc.

Dracut High School – Having turned over the new Tewksbury Memorial High School to teachers and students, CTA now turns to the neighboring Dracut, where it recently signed the contract for a $46 million addition and renovation of Dracut High School.  Dracut High’s incoming class of freshmen will remain at the Lakeview Junior High School for the current academic year to allow for ongoing renovations while the building is in use.  As noted by The Lowell Sun, “CTA has a track record of completing renovation projects at educational facilities without impeding classes.”  The project architect is Mount Vernon Group.