Current project estimates for a renovation only project is $330 million. At the completion of PSR (Preferred Schematic Review) AR8 was selected as the preferred option and is estimated to cost $334.3 million dollars.

The project is expected to last 5-6 years. Our current schedule on the basis of a successful vote in the Fall of 2025 at Town Meeting and subsequent debt exclusion vote. Construction of the new academic wing will begin in the Spring of 2027 and be available for students in the Fall of 2029. Additional demolition and renovation will occur from the Summer of 2029 through the Summer of 2030. Final sitework will be completed in the Spring of 2031.

The AR8 option is currently located within the existing school footprint.

The current high school was completed in 1971 and many of the mechanical, electrical, and fire protection systems are in need of replacement. As detailed by BLW in both their 2017 and 2021 reports, the School’s HVAC systems need a complete overhaul as they are not energy-efficient, costly to maintain, and well past the end of their expected lifespan. The electrical distribution system is also past the end of its expected lifespan and should be replaced. The cost of implementing these mechanical and electrical upgrades will likely be high enough – as a percentage of the building’s assessed value – that it will trigger a building-wide accessibility upgrade and a building-wide automatic sprinkler system.

The start of construction is targeted for Spring 2027.

Yes, refer to the Schedule tab on the project website.

Completion of the new school is targeted for completion in 2029 or 2030 pending approval by the Town. Construction documents will be prepared after Town approval, this will take approximately one year to complete. Construction is expected to be complete within 3-4 years. The earliest completion date is Fall 2029.

An educational plan (ed plan) is a forward-looking document used by a school district to identify the structural and academic strengths, areas needing improvement, and long-term goals. The superintendent of Burlington Public Schools, Dr. Eric Conti, guided the Educational Planning process, with lots of input from the Burlington High School administration, faculty, and staff, along with the many students, parents/caregivers, school committee, and community members who contributed to the district’s strategic and master plans.

The project website is populated with all documentation, reports, videos and other presentations that detail the project.

The project team is comprised of the School Building Committee, an Owner’s Project Manager, and a Designer. Given the community nature of a high school building project, many key stakeholders are included in the process of determining a preferred building solution. These stakeholders include school administration, teachers, parents, students, the broader public and local community leaders as well as Town boards including Ways & Means, Planning Board and the Conservation Commission to name a few.

Eventually, the cost estimate will be based on a detailed design. For now, professional estimators have provided us with total estimated costs based on a rough per-square-foot cost. That number is multiplied by the estimated square feet needed to meet the Educational Program of the school. The estimated per-square-foot cost is based on other recent school construction projects in the metro Boston area, adjusted for cost escalation/inflation. The Educational Program and space required to meet that program were developed by the project team, working with the school administration, and approved by the School Committee.

Currently the assumption per the guidance of the Town of Burlington Ways & Means Committee is the funding for the project will be a debt exclusion.

The cost of this project is in line with the construction and total cost of other school projects in the metro Boston area, once adjusted for size, local building code, and cost escalation/inflation.

Under the State’s Proposition 2 ½ law, municipalities are limited to an annual property tax increase of 2.5%. They can go beyond that limit if one of two things occur: An operating override or a debt exclusion. A debt exclusion allows a municipality to temporarily raise its property tax rate to pay debt service costs on municipal bonds associated with a large capital project. This increase can only be applied through the maturity of the bond and reverts once fully paid down. An operating override is a permanent increase in the tax levy over and above Proposition 2 ½ to pay for the Town’s ongoing operations.

Based on discussions with Town of Burlington Ways & Means Committee, property tax burden will increase by $3.34 per million dollars of project cost for the mean assessed property (currently this is ~ $780,000) family household. A $330 million project translates into ~ a $1,100 increase in taxes per single family household. This number is the mean. If your house is valued less than the mean you pay less. If your house is valued more than the mean, your increase will be greater.

In April, the School Building Committee selected AR8 as the preferred option thus completing the Preferred Schematic Report. We are presently in the Schematic Design Phase of the project as we work towards building a final cost estimate to present to the Town at Fall Town Meeting this coming September. If successful at Town Meeting, a debt exclusion vote would be scheduled before the end of 2025.

The Preliminary Design Program (PDP) is the first stage of the Feasibility Study phase where the District and its team collaborate to document their educational program, generate an initial space summary, document existing conditions, establish design parameters, develop and evaluate alternatives and recommend the most cost-effective and educationally appropriate alternatives for further evaluation in the PSR phase.

Multiple design options were presented and options AR8 was chosen by the School Building Committee on April 17th, 2025. A recording of that meeting can be found on the project website and on BCAT.

At the end of the PSR stage, the SBC will recommend a preferred solution after careful consideration of all of the options being considered.

Massing studies are conceptual diagrams created based on the high-level requirements of a project. These studies illustrate the potential locations and dimensions of a project. Massing studies do not represent final designs, locations, or costs associated with a project.

The Preferred Schematic Report (PSR) is the second stage of the Feasibility Study phase where the District and its team collaborate to refine their educational program and space summary, further develop and evaluate alternatives, and recommend the most cost-effective and educationally appropriate solution. The SBC must receive and approve the Preliminary Design Program and the Preferred Schematic Report before a project can move into the next stage of the building process, Schematic Design.

The School Building Committee (SBC) is a collaborative body comprised of Town & School staff, members of the community, and representatives from the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) and Designer teams. The SBC works hand in hand with the OPM and Architect to oversee the site selection and design of the building, provide input, and assist in managing requirements. The SBC also takes all votes necessary to advance the project.

An Owner's Project Manager (OPM) is a consultant firm hired by the Town through a qualifications-based selection process. Prospective OPMs submitted written proposals for evaluation. The Town then conducted formal interviews with potential candidates before a decision was made. OPM teams consist of professionals in design and construction management. The presence of an OPM on a public project of this magnitude is required. The OPM works as an extension of the group pursuing the project, in this case, the Town and the School District. The OPM represents the Town's interests through all project phases. They provide project oversight throughout its duration, from design and permitting, through construction. Other responsibilities of the OPM include, under the Town's guidance, managing project-specific communication, monitoring the budget, and tracking the project's progression.

Tappé Architects is an award-winning full service architectural firm.

Dore & Whittier is a New England-based design and project management firm comprised of architects, designers, educational planners, interior designers, and project managers.

The School Building Committee initiated a competitive process to hire the OPM. After an evaluation of the proposals received, the SBC interviewed several OPM firms and ultimately selected Dore+Whittier. D+W then assisted the SBC with a similar competitive process to hire a design firm. Upon receipt of proposals and interviewing firms, the SBC hired Tappe Architects.

The AR8 design will account for and include all existing non-high school programs and central administration either in the new academic wing or the renovated existing to remain building.

Yes. The project is required to comply with all environmental, wetlands, DEP, local zoning, noise ordinances, traffic, fire safety regulations and accessibility requirements.