On Monday, December 16th, O&G kicked off construction of two new elementary schools in Cheshire, CT with consecutive groundbreaking ceremonies — one in the north end of town and another at Norton Elementary School. Attendees included members of the board of education and building committee, students and teachers, local authorities, community members, and representatives from Tecton Architects.
The $90 million north-end school is the largest capital project the town has ever undertaken. The reconstruction and modernization of Norton Elementary at 414 North Brooksvale Road is projected to cost $76 million.
The new, as-yet-unnamed north-end school will be constructed on a 44-acre parcel of farmland at the corner of Jarvis Street and Marion Road and will accommodate 700 students ranging from prekindergarten to sixth grade. Featuring a design that blends contemporary elements with a rustic, barn-like exterior, the school aims to honor the heritage of the land it occupies. The facility will include five classrooms per grade, specialized rooms for art and music, a two-story library, an amphitheater courtyard, four separate play areas tailored to different age groups, two athletic fields, and a gymnasium accessible to the wider community.
Norton Elementary, designed to complement the surrounding wooded walking trails, will boast similar amenities to support the district’s expanding elementary student body. Both schools are planned to be environmentally sustainable, utilizing a hybrid geothermal system for energy. Officials also hope to incorporate solar panels in the future.
These new buildings are necessary due to a significant population increase in the town, particularly among elementary grades, driven by recent construction that has attracted new families. With an additional 600 multifamily units expected to be built over the next year, the student population is projected to grow further. Construction for both schools is projected to be completed by the fall of 2026, with demolition of the existing Norton school to begin in the summer of 2026 following the turnover of the New Norton School.
