Mass. Town Breaks Ground on $60M Elementary

Groundbreaking has taken place on a new elementary school in Amesbury, Mass. Construction of the Sgt. Jordan Shay Memorial Lower Elementary School was approved by city residents in 2019. The $60-million facility will sit next to the Cashman Elementary School, creating a two-building campus where students in preK–2 will attend the new school and students in grades 3–5 will attend Cashman.

The school is intended to use green design principles, with a projected savings of 28% in site energy use and 35% in reduced water use.

Project management is being handled by NV5. DiNisco Design is serving as architect for the building. The construction contract was awarded to CTA-Construction Managers. Civil engineering is being done by DGT Associates. And Brown + Sardina was named landscape architect. All are Massachusetts-based companies.

Sgt. Jordan Shay Memorial Lower Elementary School

The facility is being named after Jordan Shay, who grew up in Amesbury and died in Iraq during his second deployment. According to a foundation that was formed under his name, Shay specified in a "just in case letter" that if something were to happen to him, he wanted a scholarship fund to be started for students who "want to make a difference in the world." The foundation is led by Shay's mother, Holly.

Construction is expected to be done in March 2023.

Amesbury has posted all documents related to the project on a city website.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • nursing students talk while studying in a hallway

    Elsevier Launches VR Simulation Solution for Nursing Students

    Elsevier has introduced Shadow Health Lab with Virtual Reality, a simulation platform that allows nursing students to interact with virtual patients and build clinical judgment skills in a safe, realistic environment.

  • University of Pittsburgh to Build New Residence Hall

    The Board of Trustees from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently approved the construction of a new residence hall for first-year students, according to university news.

  • Chicago District Completes Construction on New Elementary School

    North Chicago School District 187 in North Chicago, Ill., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Forrestal Elementary School, according to a news release. The new school marks a major investment in military-connected students and families at Naval Station Great Lakes.

  • Tennessee Middle School Completes Health, Life Safety Renovations

    The Giles County Board of Education in Pulaski, Tenn., recently announced that a series of renovation projects has been completed at Bridgeforth Middle School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers and Brindley Construction to modernize building systems at one of the district’s oldest schools.