BLUE HILL — George Stevens Academy marked the start of construction on its Gateway Project on June 15, gathering students, faculty, staff, trustees and community members for a groundbreaking ceremony on campus.
Members of the Classes of 2027 and 2030 took part in the ceremonial groundbreaking alongside incoming Head of School Shelly Schildroth, Board Chair Deb Ludlow and Director of Advancement Chrissy Allen, joined by other GSA students and staff. The two classes — among the first to break ground and, in the case of the Class of 2030, among the first who will experience the completed campus — together turned the first earth on a project years in the making.
The Gateway Project is the first major initiative of GSA’s broader campus renewal effort. The project will remove approximately 6,800 square feet of campus space that has reached the end of its useful life, reducing long-term maintenance costs and refocusing resources on the facilities that most directly serve students and programs. It will also create a dedicated bus turnout to improve safety and ease congestion on High Street, establish a clearly defined main entrance on the west side of campus and improve pedestrian circulation and campus wayfinding.
The project has been guided over the past two years by owner’s representative David Gray and contractor E.L. Shea, which has overseen the requests for proposals and contracts throughout the planning process.
Campus access during construction
For the safety of students, campers and visitors, there will be no campus entry from the High Street side until construction is complete. All other access remains open, and the school wishes to assure the community that the campus remains safe throughout the project.
- Main Office: Open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the summer. Visitors may park in the student parking lot or alongside the Merrill & Hinckley building.
- Summer Camps & Clinics: Drop-off will be alongside the Merrill & Hinckley building. Campers will enter the gym building through the cafeteria doors.
The school thanks the community for its patience and flexibility during construction and looks forward to welcoming everyone to a renewed and more welcoming campus. All questions related to the project’s construction should be directed to David Gray at davidwgray20@gmail.com. For more information, visit the webpage at https://www.georgestevensacademy.org/gateway-renewal-project.