Gilbane Building Company selected to build new elementary school in Andover
Gilbane Building Company has been selected to serve as construction manager for the new, 170,000-SF West Elementary School in Andover, Massachusetts.
Designed by SMMA, with PMA Consultants (PMA) serving as owner’s project manager, the new, Net Zero Energy Ready facility will serve 130 pre-K and 925 K-5 students.
The new West Elementary School will address growing concerns over an increasing student population within the Andover School District, as well as offer a solution for the town’s aging Shawsheen Preschool building. Both student populations will be co-located in the new educational complex with a separate two-story wing for preschool students.
Set to be built directly behind the existing West Elementary School with less than 30 feet between the new and old foundations, the site is also flanked by three distinct wetland boundaries. Selected for extensive experience in building K-12 education facilities on occupied campuses, as well as expertise in environmental protection and remediation, the Gilbane team developed detailed site logistics, traffic management, safety, and project phasing plans to preserve parking, outdoor play space, bus circulation, and ensure that there is minimal disruption to school operations during construction.
“We’re incredibly excited to be a part of the Andover project team. Having worked with both PMA and SMAA in the past on similar successful projects, we’re confident that our ‘student and community first’ mindset empowers us to deliver a new elementary school that the district can be proud of,” said Mike O’Brien, senior vice president and MA business unit leader for Gilbane.
The new West Elementary School will feature modern, flexible educational spaces that promote student collaboration. Classrooms will be clustered by grade level and positioned around a central learning commons. To encourage nature-based learning, the school will also feature a roof garden and boardwalks that take advantage of nearby wetlands.
West Elementary School is set for completion in 2024.
About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide.