South Kingstown committee hears design-development update for new high school; 2027 opening targeted

South Kingstown School Committee members heard a design-development update Wednesday from Left Field, SLAM Collaborative and Gilbane Construction on the new South Kingstown High School, with the project team saying construction would run through 2027 and that the team is working to improve the schedule."The end date that was presented is October of 2027," said Kate Turner, senior project manager with Left Field, the owner's representative assigned to the project.

The presentation covered the project schedule, estimating milestones, floor plans, site circulation, construction logistics and outstanding design decisions. Turner said the design-development estimating set was due the week of May 19–20 and that Gilbane's and a third-party estimator's reconciled cost estimates would follow; the team plans a public engagement session on the estimates before seeking formal approvals from the school building committee and town council.

"That is the goal, and the team is working really hard to get there," Turner said, describing an effort to prepare early-release bid packages for site work and structure so some construction could begin in fall 2025.

SLAM's Cathy Allathorpe walked the committee through the three-story academic "tower," the two-story dining commons and auditorium mezzanine, science and CTE wings, and athletic facilities. She said most circulation is centered on a main secure entrance from School Street with dedicated visitor check-in, parent drop-off queued at the rear of the site and bus drop-off at the front."If…