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On March 2, school and community leaders and project team members pose for a photo in front of the commemorative, final steel beam topping out the academic wing of the 3-story, Phase 1 building (visible at back) of the new North Branford High School. (Photo by Pam Johnson/The Sound)

Painted white, the beam was covered with signatures and messages penned by NBHS students, staff, alumni and many others. As part of the construction trade's topping out tradition, the beam also flew an American flag and was topped by a small evergreen. (Photo by Pam Johnson/The Sound)

Members of the Gilbane Company construction team gather for a photo at the March 2 topping out event with (center, l-r) North Branford Superintendent of Schools Scott Schoonmaker and Mayor Jeffrey Macmillen. (Photo by Pam Johnson/The Sound)

Superintendent of Schools Scott Schoonmaker thanks those gathered for their part in the project as the final beam is lifted by crane at the NBHS Phase 1 academic wing construction site. (Photo by Pam Johnson/The Sound)

Mayor Jeffrey Macmillen talks about the community's commitment to the new NBHS construction project during the March 2 topping out gathering on the construction site of the Phase 1 academic wing. (Photo by Pam Johnson/The Sound)

Painted white and covered with signatures and messages penned by NBHS students, staff, alumni and many others, this steel beam is the last to be installed and completes the Phase 1, 3-story steel structure of the new NBHS academic wing. (Photo by Pam Johnson/The Sound)

Steel work for the new North Branford High School (NBHS) academic wing is complete and now stands 3 stories tall on the school campus. On Wednesday, March 2, school and community leaders and project team members attended a topping out ceremony to celebrate the completion of the steel structure on the first phase of the new NBHS project.

Many joined in for a group photos in front of the commemorative, gigantic beam before it was lifted by crane into place. Painted white, the beam was covered with signatures and messages penned by NBHS students, staff, alumni and many others. As part of the construction trade's topping out tradition, the beam also flew an American flag and was topped by a small evergreen.

NBHS Phase 1 construction continues to be on schedule and is anticipated to be completed in December 2022; followed by student, faculty and staff move in and use of the building in early 2023. Meanwhile, the next phase, including completely demolishing the old high school building to make way for new facilities, begins. From start to finish, the entire project has targeted a 30-month completion window.

Designed by Quisenberry Arcari Malik (QA+M) Architecture (Farmington), the new NBHS is set to accommodate 524 high school students within an approximately 108,000 square foot school building. The school will have features including learning commons, science labs, engineering and technology, culinary arts, media center, arts and music, a gymnasium, and a cafeteria. Construction is being undertaken by Gilbane Building Company (Glastonbury).

The 3-story academic wing will include academic spaces, science rooms, administrative offices, kitchen, cafeteria, mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, bathrooms and other support spaces, together with all ADA compliant accesses. Phase 2 will include a two-story building with academic spaces, gymnasium, locker rooms, art classrooms and other support spaces.  Site improvements will include new parking lots, grading, practice field, lighting, new utilities, new driveways and landscaping.

Bringing in a New NBHS

The need to build a new high school to replace the failing high school building had been a topic of debate for at least a decade before the Board of Education (BOE) was able to work its way up to receiving community backing and the approval of the Town Council, supported by a 2020 building feasibility study funded by the Town. In 2021, the Town Council approved bonding $67,750,000 to cover all costs related to funding the multi-phase NBHS project's $66,242,390 price tag, which will receive a state reimbursement rate of 43.93 percent (an estimated $29,100,282). 

On March 2, several members of North Branford's BOE joined Mayor Jeffrey Macmillen, Superintendent of Schools Scott Schoonmaker, project architect Rusty Malik, Gilbane project manager Kevin Pellegatto and many members of his construction team, NBHS principal Todd Stoeffler and vice principal Gregory Gwudz and many others who came out to celebrate topping out the new NBHS academic wing.

Permanent Project Building Committee member David Palumbo said it was great to see everyone come together for an historic event for the town and the high school.

"It's been a 10-year fight, but it was well worth every day. I'm honored to serve with our Permanent Project Building Committee members, the Board of Ed, Mike Paulhus, our mayor and everyone else who is involved," said Palumbo. "I'm truly honored to be a part of this project."

"It's been a lot of years of putting this together, conceptualizing it, looking for the right space in town and building out this campus," Macmillen agreed. "And this is a culmination of a part of the process -- you can really see it come to form. It's an exciting day. I think this is a stepping point for our town moving into the future. I couldn't be prouder of the way the town has put it together; [everyone] has just done one heck of a job. I'm a very proud citizen today."

Paulhus, who in April will be entering his 10th years serving as North Branford's Town Manager, said towns which undertake significant projects such as building a new high school are making an important commitment to the community and its quality of life.

"I think it brings communities together, and it shows that we're committed to reinvesting in our community and we're committed to reinvesting in quality education for our students," said Paulhus. "And it's going to be a showcase, a landmark piece for us; and a gorgeous part of a combined campus. I couldn't be happier for the community. This is going to be a great new addition to the town."

The new NBHS is going up on land incorporating the current high school campus, which is shared with North Branford Auditorium and North Branford Intermediate School (NBIS) at 654 Foxon Road.

Stoeffler said NBHS students, faculty and staff have enjoyed having a front-row seat as they've watched the academic wing going up from windows in the current NBHS building. Stoeffler added that, once the old school is gone, he's certain the new school will continue to have the "camaraderie" that makes NBHS a special school community.

Schoonmaker also remarked on the excitement that's been building among members of the NBHS community as they've watched the new academic wing rise through the work of the Gilbane construction team.

"The second floor of the high school overlooks this, and there's nothing better than to see the kids and the staff watching the workers work -- whether its 5 degrees or 10 degrees, they're out there, doing what they do," said Schoonmaker.

Schoonmaker said seeing the academic wing come together despite the challenges of Covid and other issues is a tribute to North Branford.

"It speaks to the commitment of our community to make this happen, at the worst possible time – a pandemic, with everything that we're going through," Schoonmaker said. "Yet, this rose to the level that everyone knew that our community deserved this, our students deserved this, our faculty deserved this opportunity to come into a building that will reach out to all of the different interest groups and different levels, and make it a part of their growth. So we're thrilled to be a part of this, and look forward to the next two years when this just transforms into something so special."

Pam Johnson covers news for Branford and North Branford for Zip06. Email Pam at p.johnson@shorepublishing.com.

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