Holliston Company to Work on Renovation of North End's Eliot Upper School

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Colantonio Inc, a general contracting firm based in Holliston, has begun an $18.7 million, 22-month renovation of the former North Bennet Street School (NBSS), in the heart of the North End, for the future Eliot Upper School.

The project is part of Boston Public Schools’ expansion plan for the Eliot K-8 Innovation School, which has grown from 150 K-5 students in 2007 to 500 K-8 students in 2014. The new Eliot Upper School will be ready for the school’s third, fourth and fifth graders in the fall of 2016. The school’s other two locations – 16 Charter St. and 585 Commercial St. – will serve students in grades K-2 and 6-8 respectively.

The historic, four-story masonry and wood framed building will be completely gutted. Colantonio will execute a complex shoring plan to support the exterior while the interior is demolished. The new space will feature modern classrooms, a cafeteria, kitchen, computer labs, a multi-purpose room and media center. Exterior changes include masonry repair and repointing, new windows, doors and a new public entrance where the former NBSS gallery existed.

The project team includes: Finegold Alexander + Associates, architect; Boston Building Consultants, structural engineer; R.W. Sullivan, MEP/FP engineer; Bryant Associates, civil engineer; McPhail Associates, geotechnical engineer and R.F. Freel Associates, structural engineer for temporary shoring.

Submitted by Amy M. Fahey, Colantonio, Inc.