Ribbon Cutting Held at Colchester Middle School

A ceremonial ribbon cutting was held at the William J. Johnston Middle School in Colchester, Ct., on Aug. 24 to celebrate the opening of the school’s new administrative and classroom wing.

Colchester Middle School

O&G Industries, the construction manager for the project, was responsible for overseeing the construction of the 70,000-square-foot addition, which includes the new main entrance, administrative offices, cafeteria, media center, multipurpose room/black box theater, and over more than classrooms. Site improvements related to the addition include a new courtyard and patio with expanded parking and redesigned bus and pick up loops that will optimize traffic flow.

Phase 2 of the project includes a 29,000-square-foot renovation of the school’s west wing, which includes a gym, kitchen, cafe, choral, and band rooms. The project will be fully completed in the winter of 2019.

Featured

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • school building with glowing circuit board patterns

    AI Is Coming to Schools — But Most School Buildings Still Run on Institutional Memory

    As school districts race to introduce AI into classrooms, administration, and curriculum planning, another conversation is happening behind the scenes: How prepared are school facilities themselves for the operational demands AI will create?

  • KWK Architects Announces Full Transition to Lawrence Group Branding

    KWK Architects recently announced that it will complete its transition to the Lawrence Group brand effective July 1, according to a news release. The merger marks the end of a three-year strategic integration process that began in March 2023 to unite the firms.

  • Porter Family Center

    Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.