Minuteman High School Project Reaches Major Milestone

LEXINGTON, MA – The Minuteman High School building project reached a major milestone Thursday, as the final steel beam was put in place. The "topping off" ceremony saw the 24-foot beam, signed by students, teachers, elected officials and well-wishers, put into place over what will become the new high school's main entrance.

This marks the completion of the steel structure of the building.

"What a beautiful sight," Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon, Minuteman superintendent, said at the ceremony. An American flag and small tree were also attached to the beam.

Jack McCarthy, executive director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, celebrated the workers on the project and singled out Ironworkers Local 7 for special recognition.

Also in attendance were state Sen. Cindy Friedman, state Sen. Dean Tran, Rep. Jay Kaufman, Rep. Jennifer Benson, town managers, select board members, area school officials, members of the Minuteman School Committee, the Minuteman School Building Committee, the school’s Program Advisory Committees, the Minuteman Futures Foundation and the Campaign for Minuteman’s Future.

Friedman praised state and town officials for keeping the project moving forward over the past 10 years.

"We did it for all those people back there – all those kids," Friedman said. "We are so proud of Minuteman."

The Minuteman project remains on schedule and on budget, according to school officials. Initial clearing took place last June, and the town of Lincoln issued a building permit in February covering completion of the project.

The project budget is $144.9 million, with roughly $44 million of that expected from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

The new school, with a design capacity of 628 students, is being built on the Lincoln side of Minuteman’s property. It will combine 16 career and technical education programs – and a robust offering of academic programs – under two Career Academies and five Pathways, according to a press release.

Students are scheduled to start classes in the new building in the fall of 2019.

Image submitted by Minuteman