Connecticut High School Completes Addition and Renovation Project

PlattO&G Industries recently completed the four-year addition and renovation project at Meriden’s Orville H. Platt High School.

The Orville H. Platt High School addition and renovate-as-new project kicked off in October of 2013 with the four-year, four-phase project turned over to school officials in the fall of 2017. Although the project started three months later than planned, construction was completed a full month ahead of schedule.

The project included an 87,812 square-foot renovation of the existing building, coupled with a 176,188 square-foot addition that included a new freshman academy, vocational technology facility, kitchen, and cafeteria wing. The auditorium, pool, athletic spaces and boiler room were renovated to meet Connecticut high performance building regulations.

The project has received multiple accolades and was recently awarded the 2018 Associated Construction General Contractors of Connecticut (AGC-CT) Build CT Award in the Large Renovation category and a 2017 Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Award for Projects over $25 million. Platt High School Project Superintendent Steve Baranello was named as the 2017 Associated Construction General Contractors of Connecticut (AGC-CT) Construction Supervisor of the Year.

O&G Industries of Torrington, Conn. was the construction manager for the project. 

Ninety students participated in Platt Builds, a nine-month long experiential learning program presented by O&G Industries in partnership with the Platt High School Career Center. As a part of the program, Platt high school students earned credits while learning hands-on about careers in construction. Students received a behind the scenes look into the construction of their school, engaging in interactive lectures from the project management team, design team and trade contractors as the project moved through various phases of construction to completion.

The Platt Builds program has been recognized with the Connecticut Construction Industries Association (CCIA) Community Service Award in 2014, the Midstate Chamber of Commerce Recognition for Business & Education Excellence in 2015 and the Midstate Chamber of Commerce Innovation in Education Award in 2016.

Featured

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.