BARRINGTON, RI — Shawmut joined Barrington Public Schools, local and state leaders, educators, students, parents, and community members to celebrate the groundbreaking of a $250 million district-wide school construction initiative that will modernize learning environments across Barrington High School and three elementary schools — Nayatt School, Primrose Hill School, and Sowams School.
“Across Rhode Island, we’ve had the honor of helping communities bring transformative school projects to life, and we’re proud to be part of this historic investment in Barrington,” said Chris Maury, Head of Rhode Island Operations and Head of Preconstruction, New England region at Shawmut. “The scale of this effort and the impact it will have across all four schools make it especially exciting. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the district as we help deliver modern learning environments that will serve Barrington students, families, and educators for generations.”
The project, the largest school facilities investment in the district’s history, is being delivered through a partnership among construction manager Shawmut, owner’s project manager LeftField Project Management, and Tecton Architects. Working closely with the Barrington School Building Committee, district leaders, educators, families, and community stakeholders, the team has developed a comprehensive plan that addresses aging infrastructure while creating modern schools designed to meet the needs of future generations.
The new facilities will feature secure entrances and modernized safety systems, enhanced accessibility, science and technology learning spaces, flexible classrooms designed to support collaboration and innovation, expanded special education and intervention spaces, larger cafeterias and gymnasiums, modern playgrounds, and additional classroom capacity to accommodate future enrollment needs. The project also includes upgraded heating, cooling, and clean-air systems that will create healthier learning environments while significantly reducing energy consumption and operating costs.
In addition to creating modern learning environments, the project represents a long-term investment for taxpayers. The work addresses more than $128 million in anticipated repairs and upgrades that would otherwise be required over the next 15 years, replacing aging infrastructure with modern, sustainable facilities designed to serve Barrington students for decades. When complete, the new schools are expected to be approximately 75 percent more energy efficient than many of the district’s existing buildings.
Construction activities are already underway at Barrington High School, the first campus to enter active construction. Work will continue in phases across the district.
