Woburn, MA – The Gould Construction Institute (GCI), the educational affiliate of Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts (ABC MA), has broken ground on its first-ever brick and mortar facility designed to improve its curriculum with hands-on learning.
“This is a major step forward for GCI,” said Gould president, Julie DeStefano. “Being able to provide hands-on training with shop space and virtual simulators will enhance the quality of training we can provide for our students.”
From Medford Wellington (l-r): Drew Patalano, Dylan Conn, and Mike LaCrosse
The groundbreaking took place on May 2 at the Billerica building owned by long-time ABC MA member, Medford Wellington Service Company, Inc. The ceremony included a gold sledgehammer and shovel symbolizing the groundbreaking event, and it was attended by staff from Gould, ABC, Medford Wellington and project construction manager Windover Construction.
Windover will be working with multiple fellow ABC MA contractors on the 12-week project to build six classrooms with state-of-the-art shop and equipment space for hands-on practical education. The facility is scheduled to be complete in time for the start of the school year in September.
Representatives say that Gould’s current model of renting space at night in existing schools has become increasingly difficult as more schools host their own after-dark programs. While GCI will continue to offer classes in various locations around Massachusetts, the new facility gives the school more flexibility.
“We want to have more options,” DeStefano said. “Having our own facility gives us the flexibility to do things like offer year-round apprenticeship training and expand daytime training programs.”
The facility will also allow GCI and ABC MA to offer workforce programs designed to bring more people into the trades, such as pre-apprenticeship cohorts, youth summer camps and career fairs.
