Moving Forward at Burlington High School

Local taxpayers had good reasons to smile following the June 6, 2023 meeting of the Burlington School Board. Cost estimates for the city’s new high school and technical education center, shared by White + Burke and calculated by PM&C and The Logan Company, showed the $190 million project on budget, in spite of severe inflationary pressures in the construction market.

“Some items came in more than anticipated, others less,” said Alex Halpern, President of Freeman French Freeman. “But the important thing is the overall number remains in line with what we promised the community during the bond vote last fall.”

Design and construction for the new school continues at a rapid pace. Starting May 22 teams from EnviroVantage began demolishing the old BHS after several months of clean-up and environmental remediation inside the structures. The district was able to save many valuable items when cleaning out the buildings, including gym bleachers that will be re-used at the new school. Demolition is expected to wrap up in July, at which time construction manager Whiting-Turner will begin preparing the site for construction.

The team expects the project to be complete in late 2025, which will be a welcome relief for teachers and students currently studying at Downtown BHS. Located inside a former Macy’s department store, the downtown site has become an internet sensation since opening in 2021. It has been featured on news sites around the world, including BuzzFeed News, USA Today, and this recent spot on the BBC.

Design of the new school is a collaborative effort by the architectural team of Freeman French Freeman, Colin Lindbergh & Associates, and DRA Architects. Regular updates on the project can be found on the Burlington School District website.