Committee approves Gilbane as manager of potential new East Providence High School construction

Beat out three other firms for the $189.5 million project

By Mike Rego
Posted 6/27/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — At a special session of the body held Tuesday evening, June 26, at an unusual location, the cafeteria at Martin Middle School, the School Committee unanimously approved the hiring …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Committee approves Gilbane as manager of potential new East Providence High School construction

Beat out three other firms for the $189.5 million project

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — At a special session of the body held Tuesday evening, June 26, at an unusual location, the cafeteria at Martin Middle School, the School Committee unanimously approved the hiring of the renowned firm of Gilbane Building Co. of Providence to serve as the Construction Manager at Risk to oversee the building of a new East Providence High School.

Gilbane beat out a field that included three other potential CMaR suitors — Shawmut Design and Construction of Providence, Dimeo Construction of Providence and Bacon Construction-Agostini Construction of East Providence for the $189.5 million project.

“I think we had some very, very, very capable companies in the mix, very experienced,” said Ward 3 committeeman and chairman of the Building Sub-Committee Nate Cahoon upon recommending Gilbane for the job. Mr. Cahoon also credited fellow sub-committee member and architect Steve Amoroso for his guidance during the evaluation process.

Added Superintendent Kathryn Crowley, also on the Buildings group, “I thought we have a very thorough vetting process. I am very pleased with our decision. I thought Gilbane made an outstanding presentation. They were the highest scorer.”

The Buildings Sub-Committee interviewed the four prospective management groups over two evenings, June 18 and 19, also at MMS. The body regathered to deliberate and come to a decision. Mr. Cahoon, Superintendent Crowley and At-Large Committeeman Joel Monteiro represented the school board on the Building contingent. They reported out their findings to the full School Committee last Tuesday.

“I agree in that I thought the process was very thorough,” Mr. Monteiro said. “The presentations were pretty detailed, enough for us to make a sound decision. And I’m pretty comfortable with where we’re at.”

Gilbane has built several high schools around the country, including a number in Massachusetts such as Boston, North Reading, Quincy and Winthrop as well as Enfield and New Haven in Connecticut. Also on the company’s resume is the Paul W. Crowley East Bay Metropolitan Career and Technical Center in Newport.

If passed by the voters in city on the November 2018 ballot, a new East Providence High School would be built on the same site behind the 65-year-old existing structure. Maximum, a vote to approve would cost the municipality approximately $90 million of the cost with the state reimbursing East Providence at 54.5 percent.

However, voters state-wide are also being posed in November with approving a $250 million bond for school construction. If that is approved, East Providence could be reimbursed upwards of an additional 20 percent more, bringing the state contribution to 74.5 percent if the district meets all the building criteria set out in the bond.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.