(l-r): Rich Raiche, Somerville director of engineering; Denis Garriepy, Suffolk project executive; Mary Skipper, Somerville Public Schools superintendent; Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone; Tony Pierantozzi, chair, Somerville High School Building Committee; Carrie Normand, chair, Somerville School Committee; Sebastian LaGambina, principal, Somerville High School; Dr. Emily Ackman, vice chair, Somerville School Committee; Mary-Jo Rossetti, Somerville city councilor; and Leo DeSimone, associate principal, Somerville High School/ All photos by Cindy M. Loo
Somerville, MA – The city of Somerville and Suffolk held a topping-off ceremony at Somerville High School to mark a major milestone in a $256 million renovation and construction project, the installation of the final steel beam in the school’s new west wing, which is Phase One of the three-year project.
Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Somerville Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper participated in the event, during which the beam was set in place atop the new wing at the highest point of the new school. A second ceremony will be held when the final beam of the new eastern wing is installed.
Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone signs the beam at the topping-off ceremony.
Plans call for the renovation of the existing library, field house and spaces underneath, partial demolition and new construction.
Workers watch as the final beam is hoisted at the topping-off ceremony for the new west wing.
The 377,406sf high school building will be open and fully occupied for the 2020-21 school year and the grounds, including the athletic field, will be open for the 2021-22 school year.
When it is completed, the new campus will provide a state-of-the-art, innovative, and nurturing learning environment for nearly 1,600 students.
The original high school building was constructed in 1895 and renovated in 1917, 1927 and 1986.
