Skanska tops out at 118,000 s/f new Brookline High School

Brookline, MA Leading construction and development firm Skanska has reached a significant milestone at Brookline High School with the steel topping out, effectively marking the project’s structural completion. The construction team has worked throughout the pandemic to make significant progress and is scheduled for completion in November 2021.

 “Today marks a significant milestone with the completion of the structural erection phase safely over MBTA’s Brookline Hills Station,” said Andy Felix, project director at Hill International Inc., the owner’s project manager for Brookline High School. “This is a remarkable accomplishment thanks to the collaboration and innovation of the project team.”

 Skanska is employing its building and civil expertise to construct a new, 118,000 s/f building that will span partially over the MBTA Green Line at Brookline Hills station. Once complete, the new building will include classrooms for physics, special education and general use, dedicated event space, dining and food service areas, a library, various collaboration spaces, and room for general administrative work.

In addition to the new building, Skanska is expanding and renovating an existing Brookline High School building, including adding a 70,000 s/f STEM Wing that will feature biology and chemistry labs and classrooms, collaboration and maker spaces, a culinary arts kitchen, and student restaurant/café seating. The STEM Wing is on track to be completed for the September 2021 school year. 

“As a firm, we are dedicated to Building What Matters and improving the communities we work in,” said Bryan Northrop, executive vice president of Skanska USA Building. 

“This is an exciting and eagerly awaited milestone for the Town of Brookline, and we look forward to the project’s delivery.”

“This project is a perfect example of our firm using collaboration and complex project expertise to overcome obstacles, specifically when working around the MBTA Green Line,” said Paul Pedini, leader of Skanska’s civil construction practice throughout New England. “Working with Skanska’s Building team, the town of Brookline and the MBTA, we have been able to reach this significant milestone and we look forward to the next phase of the project.”

“We have deeply appreciated the thoughtful guidance from everyone at the high school, the Town of Brookline and the broader community,” said Samuel Lasky, FAIA, principal in charge of the Brookline High School project for William Rawn Associates. “Their input helped us understand how to create a building that can amplify the best qualities of the school and its campus."

Skanska has decades of experience working in the k-12 industry, having worked with numerous school districts throughout New England that contribute to the region’s reputation as a leader in education. While working on 1350 Boylston in The Fenway, Skanska USA worked closely with nearby McKinley Preparatory High School, educating McKinley students on the construction process. Additional projects include the renovation and expansion of Belmont Middle and High School; the recreation center at Boston College; and the athletic center at Deerfield Academy, among others.