PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There are over 100 people on site at the building of the new Taconic High School and that is expected to ramp up even more over the coming months.

 

Construction on the $120.8 million building has been ongoing for a full year. The winter weather caused only minor delays and work will ramp up again when the temperature rises.

 

The number of workers is expected to double to 200 this year. The entire school is set to be completed by June 2018, and the current building will then be razed.

 

At this point, the side of the building closest to Valentine Road is still covered with wrapping but that is expected to be removed in April. Construction managers have focused most of the work in that section, which has classrooms on the upper floors and the gymnasium, auditorium, cafeteria, culinary, child care, and administrative space on the first floor. The focus on that portion of the building was because there is more work to be done and it was heated during the winter.

 

The roof on that section is nearly complete with only just a small bit above the auditorium left to be done. The large slanted roof, however, is only temporary at this point in construction. 

 

In the middle of April, the exterior precast work is expected to begin. Concrete pouring in the auditorium section is should start this week. Also in the auditorium, a catwalk has been installed that will later need decking. The ground will soon need to be graded before concrete flooring is laid down.

 

Most of that section of the building has concrete flooring in place. Workers are currently preparing to pour a large section for the culinary areas. On the second floor, the concrete is placed and ventilation ducts are already being installed. On Tuesday, Chandler Architectural Products was delivering windows and aluminum for that work.

 

Spray fireproofing work is ongoing on the second floor and then will be moved to the first floor. Masons are currently placing block walls for the second-floor locker rooms and gymnasium walls have been raised, but workers are burying electrical lines to be under the floor and power the rest of the building.

 

The electrical lines from the road have already been installed and a transformer will connect it to the building. A temporary electric line has been installed to power the work trailers by the current building and that will later serve as power during the demolition of the current school. 

 

Construction managers say the progress is fairly close to where they expected to be, with a focus on getting the exterior precast concrete going in April. 

 

iBerkshires has been documenting the progress of the construction. Below is the collection of photos we've taken during the construction.