CARIBOU, Maine — Bowman Constructors, along with several subcontractors, are making steady progress on the Caribou Community School, which local PreK-8 students will begin attending next fall.
Gregg Bouchard of CHA Architecture in Portland and clerk of the works for the Caribou Community School project, said that as of March 4, the site is averaging 75 to 80 workers each day and that they have currently placed 4,388 yards of concrete throughout the site.
“That would equal out to 438 trucks of concrete or 10 yards in each truck,” Bouchard said.
Students entering the Caribou Community School will be greeted with this main hallway, or “Main Street,” which extends for the entire length of the building. (Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)
The building’s structural steel frame was completed on Oct. 24 of last year. The entire project, which not only includes the new school and demolition of the Caribou Middle School, Teague Park Elementary School, the Sincock Administrative building and the Caribou Learning Center, is about 66 percent complete.
The first day of classes is set for Tuesday, Sept. 8. In comparison, the first day of classes this year for those students was Aug. 28. The later start means a later finish next year. The final day of classes for these students will be June 17, 2021 as compared to June 9 this year.
The project also includes the construction of a new park and biomass boiler facility adjacent to the current location of the middle school. The Teague Park side of the project is estimated for completion in mid-summer.
Bouchard said Emera recently provided a transformer to power a concession building and that local contractor Soderberg Construction only needs a couple more months of work once the snow clears in order to finish the project.
In addition to mortar work, painting, electrical and drywall work within the new school, contractors have nearly finished the foundation to the biomass building. That boiler will heat the entire building in the winter, while a small gas-powered boiler will be used to heat water during the summer.
In his role, Bouchard has monitored every aspect of the project and takes dozens of photos used to complete a 25 to 30-page report each day that is then distributed to CHA in Portland, school officials and the Maine Department of Education.
A contractor with Maine Masonry strikes a mortar joint in the Caribou Community School on March 4. (Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)
“It’s a full collaboration and the report goes out to quite a group of folks,” he said. “There’s really full transparency with your progress each day.”
RSU 39 (Caribou and Stockholm) Superintendent Tim Doak said he and other school officials were pleased with the progress and that the school is currently on schedule for completion after Labor Day.
“All the companies involved have put 100 percent effort into this,” Doak said. “We’re really fortunate as a community to have such a golden opportunity to have a school like this, not only that could represent everything in Maine, but also right here in Aroostook County.”
Doak said he’s looking forward to a small gym facility for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students, which will feature bright colors and encourage activity amongst the younger students.
“Our learning commons is the best room in the project so far,” he said. “It’s gorgeous. It will be similar to a library and a great place for kids to relax, learn and just become better thinkers in a facility with open windows, and areas for students to sit and learn at their own pace in their leisure.”
Much of the foundation for a biomass boiler facility, located next to the Caribou Middle School, has been completed as of March 4. The boiler will heat the entire school during the winter months while a small gas boiler will heat water during warmer weather. (Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)
The superintendent added that in-floor heating both upstairs and downstairs will be impressive and that the innovation center will provide students of all grade levels with access to state of the art STEM activities.
Looking ahead, Doak said he is excited to see community groups host meetings in the new school.
“We are hoping to have the community take advantage of this beautiful facility and have some of their local civic groups host meetings here once or twice a year so they can enjoy it too,” he said.
Both Doak and Bouchard reiterated that the group of contractors working on the project have put in a tremendous amount of work.
Bouchard said that while contractors from all over the state are staying in motels, eating in restaurants, and buying gas — all of which helps the economy — local contractors are putting in serious work on the new school as well.
“The local sub [contractors] have some ownership in this and they’re performing like nobody’s business,” he said. “They get to sleep in their own home at night, and they’re enjoying this because they can have their family time too.”
