Construction on #MiddletownRI Middle High School is all systems go, despite the colder temperatures these days. Local leaders said steelwork is progressing well and everything remains "on time and on budget."
SCHOOL WORK PROGRESSING
MIDDLETOWN, RI (JANUARY 12, 2026) – The colder weather isn’t slowing down work on the Middletown Middle High School.
Shared Facilities Director Ed Collins briefed the Town Council recently on the status of the new school construction, saying everything remained full throttle with the project.
The steel framework is in place for the high school wing of the building at 1225 Aquidneck Ave., with steel construction moving into the middle school portion next.
As construction has progressed, the size and scope of the project has become more obvious, with the new building visible from the intersection of East Main Road and upper Aquidneck Avenue.
“We’re getting ready to pour the concrete floor slabs on the decks and the grades,” Collins said as part of a project update during every regular council meeting. “That process takes a lot of time. Seven o’clock in the morning, they’ll start mobilizing…Anywhere from 18 to 22 concrete trucks will come in and it will be pumped up to the decks and it will be laid out.”
Taking the council through the process step by step, Collins said there’s a science behind the pouring of concrete.
And because curing concrete waits for no one, Collins said it’s a delicate dance with many moving parts to make sure everything goes according to plan.
“Once the floors are poured, we have to continue with that work,” Collins said. “That process will go until about 1 o’clock in the morning until it’s all done.”
The town is seeking a variance from local ordinances for work that could exceed noise levels as it moves closer to residential areas for a handful of weekdays over a six-month period. That item is expected to go before the council at its next regular meeting on Jan. 20 at 6:30 pm in Town Hall.
Collins said there will be a third-party inspector on site to test the concrete and other variables. That’s being done to make sure an independent set of eyes review everything and all the work is done properly.
As part of the oversight, there’s a noise meter in place on the work site to make sure all work stays within acceptable levels.
“Everything has a specification as to when it’s installed and what condition,” Collins said. “There’s waterproof testing, moisture testing, window testing, steel testing. Everything on the job is getting tested by a third party to meet specifications.”
Importantly, Collins said the neighbors would be kept up to speed on what’s happening with the project, when to expect more noise and related details.
“The building is going to be wrapped, so there shouldn't be that much noise,” Collins said. “It’s the nature of building a school this big. There’s so many things that tie into one another.”
The 211,000-square-foot school was approved in November 2023. The building includes 38 classrooms, 12 science labs, nine Career & Technical Education spaces, 15,700 square feet of physical education space and more.
The Middletown School Building Committee is guiding the entire project. The volunteer group meets at least once a month to go over every aspect of the project. Those meetings are typically the second or third Wednesday of each month.
Gilbane Building Company of Providence is handling construction, with Colliers Project Leaders overseeing that work.
A ribbon cutting for the school is slated in time for the start of the 2027 school year. Visit https://mdl.town/SBC for the latest.
The new school project is part of an ambitious plan to remake the entire Middletown school system.
This includes the transformation of Forest Avenue School into a pre-kindergarten through first grade early learning center and making the existing Middletown High School building into a grade 2-5 academy. The district’s administrative, maintenance and transportation offices will also be moved to 130 Valley Road.
“We’re are very aware of the neighbors and are doing everything we can to make sure they’re not impacted,” Collins said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Pour
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
Media Contact
Matt Sheley
Public Affairs Officer
401-842-6543
msheley@middletownri.gov