On October 23, O&G’s Building Group, city officials, students, and school staff celebrated the completion of the renovation project of Bennie Dover Jackson Multi-Magnet Middle School in New London with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony. This ambitious five-phase project, which broke ground in June 2021, reached its completion at the end of July 2024, with the commissioning phase extending through November 2024.
Designed by the architectural firm Perkins Eastman, the project involved significant alterations to the existing middle school, including the complete demolition of a section to make way for a new, state-of-the-art 165,000-square-foot facility. The project entailed a comprehensive replacement and upgrade of the existing mechanical systems, including the installation of new boilers, a water heater, rooftop units, and a direct outside air unit. Additionally, all new lighting and lighting controls were installed, along with a new building management system and a secure entrance featuring ballistic-resistant storefronts. Each classroom received upgrades, including smartboards and advanced sound systems.
The project also included the installation of all-new site utilities and the construction of a new electrical and data building, designed to house the school district’s data equipment hub. An entirely new administration office suite and nurse’s suite, complete with a community health care center, were also constructed. Outdoor improvements included the addition of a new synthetic turf field, an outdoor amphitheater in the courtyard, an outdoor half-basketball court, and a grass field for recess activities. The project scope further encompassed the repaving of all three parking lots on the property and the replacement of several existing roofs with new roofing materials.
One of the project’s most significant challenges and successes emerged during the courtyard’s reconstruction and new addition. While excavating for the new footings, the construction team encountered substantial, previously unidentified bedrock in the area designated for the new amphitheater and addition. Given the proximity to the existing, occupied school, and the fact that the school’s footings were directly atop the bedrock, blasting the rock was not an option. Instead, the team employed drills and rock hammers, a painstaking process that extended over four months, despite the schedule originally allocating only one month for this task. To minimize disruption during school hours, the team performed this work during off-hours. They successfully removed all the rock and recouped most of the lost time, ultimately reducing the project’s delay from three months to one month. This allowed the school to open as planned for the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Project Manager Ryan Benoit expressed immense gratitude and appreciation for everyone who contributed to the project’s success. “Any alteration or renovation of an occupied school is inherently challenging. Balancing the need to complete work on schedule and within budget while minimizing disruption to the active school environment is no small feat. Fortunately, we had excellent partners, including Principal Chris Vamvakides; Director of Facilities Miguel Gautier and his technology team led by Doreen Bono; The Owners Representative team from Colliers Project Leaders Chuck Warrington, Kathleen Turner, and Joseph Luciano; Fire Marshal Vern Skau; Head Building Official Kirk Kripas; The building committee led by Chairman John Satti; and the PCO subcommittee, with special thanks to Bryan Doughty, Board of Education member, and Brian Sear, Director of Public Works for their diligent efforts in getting PCOs approved in a timely manner” he remarked.
Benoit also commended his team, stating, “They tackled and overcame every challenge we faced on-site. Lorel Purcell did an outstanding job getting this project approved for construction, overcoming bid day budget overages, a highly challenging market, and significant work to keep the project within budget while maintaining the maximum reimbursement agreed upon by the state. Chris Rizy set the project up for success from day one with his meticulously planned phasing schedule. It was Chris’s foresight to push the renovation of the two main parking lots to the summer of 2022 instead of 2023, a decision that proved invaluable as our site contractor could then focus entirely on removing the bedrock during that period. Jim Perault did a fantastic job picking up where Chris left off, ensuring the project didn’t miss a beat. Jim also excelled in maintaining and fostering a strong relationship with the school staff, which helped us navigate and resolve issues that could have otherwise derailed the project and disrupted the schedule. Greg Pomerleau played a crucial role in setting up the project correctly and ensuring a smooth start, which allowed Brody Roy, Owen Carbray, and Earl Stevens to transition into their roles as project engineers seamlessly. I must also highlight Owen Carbray’s impressive growth over the two years we worked together; he has evolved from a quietly observant intern into a highly competent project engineer. Owen has a promising future, and I look forward to witnessing his continued development. Lastly, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Mark Jeffko for his wise leadership and exceptional mentoring. I have learned and continue to learn so much from Mark, and I couldn’t ask for a better Project Executive.”
In conclusion, the completion of the Bennie Dover Jackson Multi-Magnet Middle School project stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts and dedication of everyone involved, from the design and construction teams to the school administration and community partners. Their combined efforts have culminated in a state-of-the-art educational facility that will serve the New London community for many years to come.
PROJECT TEAM:
Mark Jeffko, Project Executive
Ryan Benoit, Project Manager
Superintendents
Chris Rizy and Jim Perault
Project Engineers
Greg Pomerleau (before his promotion to Project Manager and assignment to the Learn Academy project in New London), Brody Roy, Owen Carbray, and Earl Stevens (the latter two began as interns)
Lorel Purcel, Preconstruction Manager
Nick Castler, VDC Manager
Mark Cordoano, Safety Manager
