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Millis school project lays out 2½‑year phasing plan; field access and temporary office flagged
Summary
Designers presented a phased construction schedule beginning spring 2027 that will require temporary superintendent offices, utility work and potential temporary relocation of sports activities; the committee asked for further detail on access, parking and communications with emergency services.
Designers presented a multi‑phase schedule for the Town of Millis school project that would begin with a spring 2027 mobilization and run through summer 2029, and committee members pressed the team on site access, athletics impacts and temporary office space.
The chair opened the meeting by noting permitting and design updates, then a presenter summarized the phasing plan: "So this here is basically the building footprint... spring of 2027 to summer of 2028," and described a sequence that builds a new addition first, renovates gym and media spaces in a second summer and finishes auditorium and music room work in later summers. The presenter said the team plans to complete underground utilities, a detention basin and an east parking lot in the first summer so major utility work is in place before most interior work begins.
Why it matters: the schedule requires temporary changes to campus operations. Committee members asked about alternatives to building a temporary superintendent office; presenters said town hall lacked space, the train station was unsuitable and converting an underused TV studio with modest HVAC and closet retrofits would be the most cost‑effective option for roughly six people. "It's more cost — it's the most cost effective," the chair said of the studio option.
Members raised concerns about a construction choke point that could affect summer athletics and field access. The site presenter said relocating a backstop or moving baseball to another field for a season would alleviate tight turning radiuses for deliveries; the team also proposed phasing a retaining wall earlier if needed. The design team agreed to examine alternate routing and to provide a clearer plan for locker room egress and student circulation.
The presenters said the intent is to communicate lane reductions or detours to police, fire and the public before trenching begins and to issue interim logistics plans as needed. The committee also discussed temporary staging needs for reroofing and the likely location of Connex storage boxes that will be needed for material handling during demolition and reroofing.
Next steps: the design team will return with refined VE options and a more detailed access and logistics plan for the committee's next meetings and for the June 8 virtual public forum, where Fontaine will be introduced to the community.
