Lowell High construction delayed after discovery of hollow areas beneath 1922 Building
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Summary
Engineers found hollow areas under the 1922 Building floor during construction, prompting a likely delay of four to five months and potential additional contingency costs; the committee discussed relocation options for affected programs and funding constraints.
The Lowell School Committee on March 5 was told that engineers discovered hollow areas beneath the concrete floor of the 1922 Building at Lowell High School, a condition that will require remediation and is likely to delay the project and increase costs.
Superintendent Skinner said the discovery — described as hollows where the concrete "is no longer sitting on something solid" — was found when contractors exposed the floor to lay piping. Engineers are evaluating solutions; the construction team told the district the issue would add "four to five month[s] at the least until December '26," and that costs would likely be charged to the project contingency.
Committee members pressed for an explanation of how soil and slab conditions were missed during earlier studies, urged geotechnical investigation and asked whether federal aid or the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) could help cover additional costs. Superintendent Skinner said MSBA funding was ruled out but staff would pursue other possible avenues.
Members also discussed operational impacts. Programs housed in the 1922 Building basement — including culinary instruction, ROTC and the Lowell Community Health Center — may need temporary relocation; staff said some programs can move to the 1980 Building when it opens next summer, while others will require additional planning. The superintendent and construction managers planned to provide cost and timeline specifics at a meeting scheduled April 3.
No vote was taken. Committee members requested follow-up information on estimated remediation costs, the geographic scope of affected slab areas and options to reduce additional delays.
