Academic
Since the baby boomers entered school in the 1960's, educational facilities
have been a steady area of focus for Fontaine Bros. We have completed well
over $1 billion worth of schools, working in both the private and public
sectors as both a general contractor and a construction manager.
Chicopee Comprehensive, a $75 million, 325,000-square-foot high school for 1300 students, epitomizes the advantage of building with Fontaine Bros. The school consists of both career and technical education facilities. Schools are no longer just class rooms; they are high tech, state-of-the-art facilities designed to educate students in a wide variety of technological fields. This facility includes automotive technology, computer aided drafting and computer aided manufaturing, carpentry, electronics, electrical, culinary arts, landscape and horticulture, machine technology, metal fabrication and welding, and a state-of-the-art telecommunications center.
The construction of Chicopee Comprehensive High School required not only construction, but also demolition. We demolished the existing athletic fields and grandstand. Further, the project required the demolition of the existing school structure, lowering the grade an average of 12 feet. Before construction could begin, we had to install over 2500 geo piers for foundation stabilization. Then we started the construction of the five component building (including auditorium, gymnasium, natatorium, technical shops, and academics). The construction of the new outdoor athletic complex consisted of a synthetic running track, synthetic football field, and softball diamond. Fontaine Bros. managed, coordinated, and scheduled over 60 subcontractors and vendors which resulted in completion of the auditorium, gymnasium, natatorium, and technical shops 3 months ahead of schedule. Early completion allowed the school to utilize these areas one semester early. The completion of the academic areas were also finished on time allowing the school to coordinate the move for the winter semester.