GPS Capital Projects Update
Keeping you updated on Greenwich Public Schools projects
The GPS Capital Projects Update is a newsletter issued multiple times per year in order to provide updates on major projects across the district to the Greenwich community. We find that this makes it easy for our elected officials and school community to keep up with our major projects. For those who want more detailed information, on-going updates are uploaded to the facilities projects page on the Greenwich Public Schools website on a regular basis.
The facilities department, contractors, and construction workers across the district were very busy this summer working on ADA projects, major renovations, new construction, and closing out capital projects across the district. A special thanks to our fabulous facilities team led by Mr. Dan Watson. We kept him very busy this past summer.
Thank you!
Dr. Toni Jones, Superintendent of Schools
In August of 2024, Riverside School created a Feasibility Study Committee to meet and discuss the building’s existing conditions. Built in 1932, it had not had additional renovations done to the school in more than 25 years. The building is presently inappropriately sized for the present-day needs of the school.
The Committee identified inadequacies and areas in need of improvement. These items have been prioritized in the development of the conceptual plans, scope and estimate:
Security and accessibility improvements are needed to bring the school in line with current standards. This is a high priority item.
The existing building is cramped, indicating an issue with capacity, also observed in previous studies. Projected enrollment for this study remains relatively high at 442 students.
The cafeteria is small given the overall size of the school and enrollment, with a serving line and queuing arrangement that increases overall serving time well beyond lunch hours.
Core classrooms fall below general standards, with many classrooms sized at or below 700 square feet, particularly on the second floor.
The current facility lacks ample dedicated spaces of appropriate size and configuration for specialized instruction.
Space is needed for high-quality hands-on learning outside of regular classroom spaces.
Traffic flow should be improved, and parking maintained or expanded.
The educational specifications were approved by the Board of Education on February 20, 2025 at its regularly scheduled business meeting.
A building committee is currently in the formation stage by the Office of the First Selectman, with interviews getting underway. Once the committee is selected and approved by the RTM, the next step will be to hire an architect to start the design work.
For more information, head to the webpage dedicated to this project.
AECOM, a highly trusted global infrastructure leader, is finalizing the design for the geothermal system for Hamilton Avenue School. GPS administration will then go to the Board of Estimate and Taxation for an interim funding request, and then on to the RTM for final approval so that construction will be ready to go.
The district will work on preparations immediately and do as much as possible leading up to summer when major work must begin. The current wells of the geothermal system will be used, as they were determined in good condition, while the well house will be almost totally replaced with a modern-day, right-sized system, for the size of the building.
Late last school year, the large temporary unit cooling the building was moved from the back drive to the front side of the building to alleviate noise concerns from neighbors who had endured the machinery right outside of their windows for more than a year. While the unit is unappealing near the entrance of the building, it is only temporary. A new efficient HVAC system at Hamilton Avenue School will be welcomed on many different levels.
The Preliminary Geothermal System Evaluation Project report from January 31, 2025 can be found online.
The lack of reliable cell service inside Greenwich High School due to its structural design is being addressed. Currently, mobile phone signals are unavailable throughout the interior.
The project to improve cellular connectivity is now in its final phase and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026. Once finished, students and staff will benefit from enhanced safety and communication, with the ability to make calls at any time without relying on Wi-Fi. This will be especially helpful for students waiting for late-night transportation, who will be able to contact their families without needing to leave campus to find a signal.
A full district-wide ADA Report was completed by Silver Petrucelli + Associates and the information is being utilized to plan for the annual capital requests.
The district’s capital plan has an ADA line item to ensure critical issues are prioritized, such as major entrance issues, restroom access, and widths of doors. The study delineates items by those critical needs.
Currently, there is major project work scheduled for Western Middle School to redesign the entrance to make it fully accessible. The project at Western MS is considerably more complex than the entrance design completed at Eastern MS just a few years ago due to the grade of the land and length of the concrete ramp necessary.
Read the full report online.
Last school year, a renovation study was completed to assess the condition of performance platforms and theatrical equipment at our elementary and middle schools. Lighting systems, sound systems, stage drapery and tracks, rigging, and other related equipment were assessed. Stage work has been prioritized to take place during the next several years as part of the annual capital plan.
Critical work occurred during the summer of 2025 where items such as rigging were determined to be outdated and needed immediate attention. Work was completed at Eastern Middle School, Western Middle School, and Old Greenwich School.
The Performing Arts Center at Greenwich High School also had an upgrade to the sound system, performed by a sound technician expert.
For more information, head to the webpage dedicated to this project.
In late August, Greenwich Public Schools hosted a topping off ceremony to celebrate completing the structural phase of the new Central Middle School construction. Dignitaries from across the town adorned personal protective equipment, including protective helmets and high-visibility vests, and cheered on the final beam being put in place.
The new Central Middle School will be a dynamic learning center for generations that will house up to 660 students in approximately 125,000 gross square feet in a two story structure. The building will be designed with safety, flexibility, and sustainability in mind – goals generated in a Visioning Session with civic leaders, community members, and school faculty, in conjunction with the Educational Specification set forth by the Board of Education.
Construction for the new Central Middle School is on time and on budget. Once completed, students and staff are expected to move into the new building by September 2026.
In the meantime, the current building continues to be monitored to ensure safety for all students and staff. The contractor overseeing the monitoring system has been involved since the building was first determined to require an emergency solution. The rock blasting for the new building has now been completed.
According to the September update, Central Middle School Campus Connections, work will continue on Saturdays for the month of September and October. They are finalizing decking and detailing of structure, continuing exterior envelope framing and roof system installations, and more.
We are incredibly grateful for the outstanding work of the building committee. For more information, head to the webpage dedicated to this project.
The parking structure at Hamilton Avenue School is experiencing age and corrosion related deterioration conditions that needs to be addressed in order to ensure its structural integrity and extend its useful life. A condition study was completed in August of 2023, including photographs and descriptions of the work required.
Work started this past summer and the construction team did a fabulous job with the top of the parking deck and had it cleaned up and ready for the staff on time. Resurfacing and new drainage was completed. Final coating will be applied at the beginning of next summer. There will also be work next summer inside the parking garage.
Julian Curtiss School is in need of renovations to the existing building that, when completed, will make it a more attractive magnet school of choice in the district and a stronger neighborhood school in the community. Upgrades to accessibility, life safety, security, and mechanical elements and systems are needed to bring them up to expected levels for 21st Century school buildings. Flexible and adaptable settings, designed for changing educational methodologies will be incorporated.
The entire Julian Curtiss community is excited and ready. Both the alterations and the additions will be approached in a manner that are sensitive to and respect the existing building, a vintage late 1940’s brick Georgian style two-story school building. The beautiful wood trim and terrazzo floors are incorporated as part of the renovation.
The additional full-day prekindergarten program and demands on the cafeteria require that the facility be sized to meet those enrollment and educational demands.
We are incredibly grateful for the outstanding work of the building committee. For more information, head to the webpage dedicated to this project.
Elevator Shaft
A new elevator shaft going from the second floor down to the basement has been enclosed for on-going work throughout the year. The major portion of the elevator work will be completed during the next 10 months and is expected to be ready for the 2026-2027 school year.
An initial drain issue with the Greenwich High School swimming pool required an emergency shut-off valve being installed. Once the pool was empty and the work began, there were noticeable deficiencies with the pool.
As a result, a feasibility committee was formed last spring and continued to meet throughout the summer. The pool is not in good condition as we learned last spring. There is a sense of urgency to finalize the educational specifications and get them approved by the Board of Education so that an interim funding request can be sought this school year. Currently, we are doing everything possible to keep the facility open and in use for the most successful aquatic program in the State of Connecticut.
The feasibility committee also involves professional cost estimating services, along with a pool engineer who understands the nuances of pool construction, and also AECOM who understands the soil issues on the Greenwich HS campus. The educational specification will be on the Board’s agenda in the coming weeks.
For more information, including a copy of the facility assessment and recommendations, head to the feasibility committee website.
This past April, Greenwich dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the much anticipated official start of Old Greenwich School's renovation at a groundbreaking ceremony. The shovel was ready to go in the ground, but the bid process response was unsatisfactory. Pricing caused by economic uncertainties created challenges. The OGS Building Committee agreed to rebid the project and remain firmly committed to protecting student well-being while keeping the project within budget.
While they knew they were going to miss the summer work, the committee also knew that they needed to get this project right for the OG community. The team went back to work and looked at some reengineering to bring some of the costs down.
Based on the advice of the construction manager, the committee will spend the coming months making some modest revisions to bid packages, optimizing construction phases, and preparing to rebid the project this fall. The new target for starting construction is April 2026.
We are incredibly grateful for the outstanding work of the building committee. For more information, head to the webpage dedicated to this project.
Having enough outdoor play equipment for all students is important to keep them healthy, happy, and on the move. We are proud to partner with the Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation, who oversee the grounds as part of our shared services, and provide ADA accessible playscapes on school grounds. Completed projects this past summer included new playscapes at Julian Curtiss and North Street Schools and a new bank of swings at Hamilton Avenue School.
Some of our schools, such as North Street, house important programs. Students in unique learners special needs classrooms as well as PreK classrooms utilize specialized equipment in our play spaces. They are life changing for our students and a chance to all play together.
