Brunswick board hears detailed timeline as new high school breaks ground May 3; completion targeted for Memorial Day 2027

Architects from Venn Design and Hammond Construction told the Brunswick Board of Education on April 15 that design work for the new Brunswick High School is finished and the district will break ground May 3.

The presentation said the design phase is complete and that early site work, including asbestos abatement and demolition, began in January 2024. Scott Olliman, architect and project manager with Venn Design, said, "The design is done. Pencils are down. And we're ready to start construction." He and interior designer Jeannie Klackner reviewed the building—s program, which locates the new academic wing toward Center Road, places athletics and performing arts on the north side, and preserves several secure, controlled public entrances.

Derek Similia, project director for Hammond Construction, summarized construction already under way and the plan for the next 36 months. Similia said the project completed early utilities and site stabilization and that crews had "stabilized the building pad. We're probably about 85%" and expected to finish the pad work in the weeks prior to the groundbreaking. He said foundations will start in May and that the contractor bid process produced competitive pricing that allowed the project to remain within budget.

Project leaders described a phased schedule driven by campus logistics. Key dates and sequencing reported to the board included: - Groundbreaking ceremony: Saturday, May 3 (community event planned). - Foundations and masonry start: May—June 2025, with heavy focus on getting gymnasiums, cafeterias and large mechanical spaces under roof before winter. - Building under roof and structural completion objective: late 2026, with interior finishes concentrated after the structure is closed in. - Targeted substantial completion/dedication: Memorial Day weekend, 2027.

Similia stressed the campus will remain active during construction and that demolition of the old east wing of the existing high school will continue through 2028 after the new building opens. "We can't build the student staff parking lot until we demo the east wing," he said, and the team described alternate bus loop and parking plans for the 2027—28 school year.

Design highlights shown to trustees included flexible, daylighted classroom labs, two gymnasiums with bleachers on both sides, a performing arts center with acoustical treatments, and multiple secure vestibules. Interior wayfinding and a recurring —Brunswick Blue— banner motif were presented as consistent identity elements throughout the facility.

The team said early bids were competitive and future bid packages (late site concrete, asphalt, etc.) will follow industry-standard phasing. Construction management will publish regular updates on the district website and the team invited student engagement opportunities such as beam signings and organized site tours when safety permits.

The presentation did not require a board vote; trustees asked clarifying questions about logistics and sequencing but took no formal action during the update.