WAKEFIELD, MA — Gilbane Building Company, a contractor of K-12 facilities nationwide, celebrated a major construction milestone in Wakefield, Massachusetts, as the firm placed the last steel beam into place on the 380,000-square-foot Northeast Metro Tech High School project (NEMT).
School administrators and committee members, state officials, and project team representatives recently gathered to celebrate the topping out at NEMT and reflect on the project’s progress to date. Since breaking ground in August 2023, 138,000 cubic yards of rock have been blasted and processed or exported, 5,725 cubic yards of concrete have been placed, and in just the last eight weeks, over 3,000 tons of structural steel have been erected.
“[This] milestone was made possible by the hard work put forth by the entire project team and through the collaborative efforts of Northeast Metro Tech’s administration,” said Mike O’Brien, Senior Vice President and Division Leader for Gilbane in New England. “On behalf of the Gilbane team, I’d like to specifically thank our subcontractor partners and their tradespeople for their work and professionalism on this project. This has been an especially rewarding project, as NEMT provides students with the education essential to building the future construction workforce.”
Situated adjacent to existing school operations, the Northeast Metro Tech High School project has presented a unique opportunity to engage the student body. The Gilbane team has worked alongside school administrators to integrate this project as an educational tool for many of the NEMT students and their programs. Activities have included guest classroom presenters and site tours on a wide array of topics, including safety, carpentry, and metalwork.
Graphic arts students have also been engaged in the construction process as they designed and installed the custom fence scrim that welcomes all to campus.
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“This project represents the best of the building today for a better tomorrow,” State Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. said. “This new modern facility will help educate tens of thousands of students in the trades in the years to come, benefiting us all.”
“The construction of the new NEMT is about creating an opportunity for students to learn about trade work and build a life for themselves,” State Representative Richard Haggerty said. “I am proud to be able to celebrate this important milestone.”
The new high school is set for completion in 2026 and will allow for enrollment to expand to 1,600 students. Upon occupancy, the existing vacated school facility will be demolished to allow for the development of new fields, courts, and landscaped areas for students.
