PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is just one more school year left for the current Taconic High School.

 

Across the driveway, workers have been constructing a new $120.8 million school. On a daily basis, an average of 150 workers under different subcontracts and companies report to the site every morning. The project has crossed the 50 percent completion mark and is on pace for substantial completion in June. 

 

Much of the focus now is on enclosing the building. The plan is to have the exterior sealed up before Nov. 1 when the heat comes on. The exterior includes a significant amount of glass, much of which is currently going up in various sections of the building.

 

Meanwhile, the school's mechanical systems are progressing quickly at this point as well.

 

The new school is divided into four sections: A, B, C, D, with the westernmost side being A and the easternmost being D. The work timeline was scheduled more attention on section A and moving east from the start. 

 

In sections A and B, where the media center, gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium, computer classrooms, locker rooms, and the front entrance are located, the mechanicals are nearly complete. In that section about 90 percent of the duct work has been completed, new boilers installed, electrical is laid but not completed throughout.

 

In some sections, walls are being painted and the ceiling is being put up.

 

The gymnasium and the cafeteria's concrete floors have been poured in recent months. The auditorium's floor is on hold until the mechanical equipment, mostly up high, is completed - the floor will be slanted when poured making for uneven ground for equipment. 

 

The other side features the shops and classrooms. The framing for the classroom and breakout spaces are currently being installed. All but one of the shop floors have been poured. And plumbers and electrical are hooking up the systems. 

 

In sections C and D, the workers are focusing on the top-down - so the third floor is further along than the lower floors.

 

iBerkshires has been touring the facility regularly since the groundbreaking. Take a look at our ongoing photo collection below;  the newest photos are at the end.