BUILDING THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE

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BUILDING THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE: EAST PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOL

While this school year is markedly different than any other in our nation’s history, the safety of our students remains paramount. Many of our kids aren’t physically in school full-time, but they will be soon. When it’s safe, we know that they deserve to be welcomed back into spaces that support their learning. That’s why Local 17 members are hard at work in East Providence, Rhode Island, helping to build a new, state-of-the-art high school. Upon its completion, the $190-million-dollar project will boast 300,000 square feet of classrooms, science labs, and athletic facilities. It will also host a wide range of specialized technical education facilities, including a student-run community restaurant, auto repair shop, and construction lab for more than 1,600 students.

The project couldn’t come at a better time. The new school will replace a deteriorating building. Students will no longer have to learn in a space with leaky roofs, crumbling infrastructure, and poor climate controls.

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1: Local 17 members install duct work for the new East Providence High School. 2: Al Holt and Ryan Pelletier prepare to install duct work in a new classroom. 3: The new school will house over 300,000 square feet of classrooms and labs. 4: Local 17 members’ HVAC duct work will keep students cool in the summer and well-ventilated during cold and flu season. 5: The project is on track to be completed in time to welcome students next fall. 6: David Faria cuts metal flashing for the school’s new roof. 7: Wayne Hannagan and Scott Blinkhorn plan out next steps for HVAC installation.

On site, Local 17 members are fabricating and installing HVAC heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ducts tailored to the special requirements of the new school. The team is also constructing metal flashing and, in light of COVID-19, they’re installing key filtration systems to keep everyone safe. Thanks to their hard work, the new school will be ready to welcome students next fall. The project couldn’t have been possible without the thousands of voters who approved a bond referendum question in 2018. After this election cycle, East Providence High is the first of many school renovations to come. Providence, Cranston, Warwick and Newport residents all overwhelmingly voted to pass Question 2 on their ballots, releasing funds for much-needed school renovations. We’re looking forward to these projects, which will bring even more opportunities to Local 17’s workforce.