State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and Jack McCarthy, MSBA Executive Director, today joined state and local officials at a groundbreaking ceremony for a major repair and renovation project at Greater Lowell Technical High School. The MSBA is contributing 76.84% of eligible expenses toward the $65.3 million project.
“I am delighted to help break ground on this important and long-awaited project,” Treasurer Grossman said. “Thanks to the MSBA’s successful and collaborative partnership with the Greater Lowell District, students and staff at this high school will benefit from a state-of-the-art learning and teaching environment for many years to come.”
Repairs to the existing 482,954 square foot structure will address deficiencies in major building systems, including electrical, plumbing, windows, roof and envelope. Additions will include cafeteria space to provide seating for 670 students per lunch period. Thirteen new science labs will also be added to the facility. The MSBA will contribute a total grant of up to $50,088,316 toward the project. Greater Lowell Technical High School was built in 1974 and serves approximately 2,000 students in grades 9-12 from the communities of Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell and Tyngsborough.
“For Greater Lowell Technical High School, the most educationally and fiscally appropriate solution was a renovation project to improve learning facilities and extend the working life of the current school,” Executive Director McCarthy said. “This is the type of collaboration and innovative thinking that will benefit area students, as well as taxpayers.”
The MSBA partners with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally-appropriate, flexible, sustainable and cost-effective public school facilities. Since its 2004 inception, the Authority has made over $10 billion in reimbursements for school capital improvement projects. MSBA reimbursements have saved districts over $2.9 billion in avoided local interest costs and have provided much needed cash flow to communities.