Twin Towers renovation on schedule, contractors report $80 million contract and strong local hiring
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Summary
Contractors and district officials reported steady progress on the Twin Towers renovation, said the monitored contract value is about $80 million, and highlighted that local, minority- and women-owned firms and local workers have received significant work and hours.
District officials and the construction team told the Middletown school board the Twin Towers renovation is progressing on time and budget, and they highlighted local economic benefits from the project.
Dr. Norville Connell, the district’s finance official, introduced the construction team and said there were no audit-related corrective actions affecting the project. Contractors presented renderings and a progress update showing a four-story addition, a new cafeteria and fitness area, elevator shafts and interior classroom work. Josh Rodriguez of the construction team said the project has placed HVAC and electrical infrastructure milestones, including “19 units” secured over the summer and forthcoming electrical connections needed to tie the new addition to the existing building.
Landon and Ryan Enterprises, the project monitor, reported a contract-monitoring value of roughly $80,000,000 as of July 2025 and detailed outreach and hiring goals: paid amounts to date included about $1.3 million to minority-owned businesses (MBE), $1.6 million to women-owned businesses (WBE) and roughly $14 million in local business participation. Monitors said the project exceeded combined MBE/WBE/local goals (combined target 20%; achieved 21.5% as of July) and reported about 63,000 total workforce hours to date, with 18,476 minority hours and 3,670 women hours (minority share ~29%).
Contractors cautioned that final connections to the existing building require a planned power shutdown and coordination with the utility O&R; that step and winter weather are schedule sensitivities. Board members praised the work and asked about tours and educational uses of the mechanical room; contractors said the mechanical room will be configured as an educational display and that two Middletown graduates from a BOCES electrical apprenticeship are working on-site.
Why it matters: The project is the district’s largest capital renovation in years and has direct economic impact on local firms and workforce participation. The board repeatedly emphasized local and minority participation as a condition of the project.