Washington School set to open

By Danny Atkinson

Voice Writer

Following a long and winding journey, the reconstruction of Washington Elementary School (WES) is nearly complete. The project which received full approval from the Planning & Zoning Commission in March of 2023, is on track to be completed on May 22 and ready to welcome students back in the fall. Currently, students are located at Molloy School. Gilbane Construction, which has tackled many city projects, including the new West Haven High School, is completing its task.

Washington, one of six pre-K-4 elementary schools in West Haven, was earmarked for an upgrade that brought it into the future. The first structure was built in 1909, and no construction work had been done on it since 1986 prior to its demolition. The school was out of compliance, with examples including a lack of air conditioning and elevators. Features of the building such as narrow stairwells, wide hallways and masonry had officials decide that renovation was not a serious option.

“The school was in complete disrepair,” said Ken Carney, West Haven’s Building Committee chairmen. “There were no breakout rooms for reading or special needs students or extra classrooms if needed.”

Carney helped oversee the funding for the Washington Elementary reconstruction as chairman of both the Building Committee and ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Committee. The final cost for the project is estimated to be $41.7 million. Because of the reimbursement rate of 77.14% that was granted by the state, the city will only have to pay roughly $10 million. The city was also able to obtain a space waiver at the same time, thanks to the efforts of its state delegation.

The school that students and teachers will return to in the fall will be two stories and roughly 61,000 square feet. The building, which was designed by Antinozzi Associates and the engineering firm Sentec, will accommodate roughly 438 students between pre-K and 70 teachers.

Gilbane Building Co. demolished the old structure in late 2023 and finished its work in January 2024. Workers then immediately started construction, beginning with the creation of ground improvement piles that foundation could be laid upon. The foundation of the school was built that next month, and the school was constructed throughout the remainder of the year.

Once the Gilbane team finished construction a few months ago, the project entered what Ryan Bentz, a General Superintendent for Gilbane who has been one of the individuals running the whole project since the start, called “the finishing stage.” This entails work such as painting, flooring, and adding tiles. The completion date is slated for May 22, and the building is scheduled to receive a certificate of occupancy on June 9.

“The finishing process is going very smoothly, and we are hitting all our milestone dates. We are on target to finish May 22, and we see no complications keeping us from finishing then,” Bentz said.

Bentz and fellow General Superintendent Ryan Ozak said that there had been no significant conflicts or delays throughout either the demolition or reconstruction when contacted at the end of March.

In addition, no injuries to workers occurred up to that point. Bentz said that an average of 45 people were working on the school daily since the project’s beginning, with a high of 60 during the heaviest stages of construction.

Based on information provided, and what was seen during a visit to the site, students attending in September will have a different experience than in the original building. Carney agrees.

“I think the students are going to be more comfortable and have more resources,” Carney said. “They will have colorful and well-lit classrooms and access to break-out rooms, a playscape, clean bathrooms, and cafeteria. And in the back, they will have a beautiful playscape in the courtyard.”

Bentz said that Gilbane’s relationship with the West Haven school system has been “brilliant” throughout this project. Much of the leadership at Gilbane that worked on Washington Elementary served in similar roles during the renovation of West Haven High School a few years ago, and the strong working relationship these individuals formed with city officials during that time carried right over to working on the elementary school.

“That trust between the two sides has allowed this project to go really well,” Bentz said.

Bentz said that he and his colleagues found the experience of reconstructing Washington Elementary very rewarding.

“It’s satisfying when you go into the community and know your work is all for the kids at the end of the day. It’s nice to work in an environment where we are improving the vibe of the school for future students. I think it’s going to be a great school and design for future generations.”