UMass Medical School

In 1970, Fontaine was selected to build the original UMass Medical School—at the time, this was the largest public construction contract ever awarded by the Commonwealth. It was a defining project that helped shape our reputation for delivering complex, high-impact work. While we've expanded into a wide range of markets over the years, healthcare has always been part of our foundation. Today, we’re proud to once again be doing work for the institution that gave us our start in the healthcare sector. 

Recently, Fontaine was selected to work with UMass Chan Medical School to transform the Medical School and Hospital campus with the design, fabrication, and installation of 18 new signs across seven campus buildings. In total, 14 outdated signs were removed and replaced, including several mounted as high as 130 feet above ground, requiring specialized swing staging, crane work, and rigging.

The project also included revamping building exteriors through the installation of custom composite panels, stone repairs, power washing, and painting. Additional scope involved building concrete structures and completing associated electrical work. With work taking place on a 24/7 active campus, the project called for precise planning, close coordination, and constant communication to ensure safety and minimize disruption.