South High Community School

The South High Community School project in Worcester, Massachusetts, delivered a complete replacement of the original high school, originally built in the late 1970s. The $210 million, 360,000-square-foot facility now provides a modern, career-focused learning environment designed to support both academic instruction and hands-on workforce development.

A major feature of the new school is its expanded vocational programming, including Diesel Technology and Culinary Arts. These programs give students practical, career-ready training and help create direct pathways into entry-level jobs after graduation.

The project was built on a highly active campus, with construction taking place while the existing high school remained fully occupied. The site was also shared with a functioning middle school, requiring careful coordination, phased construction, and strict attention to safety to keep daily school operations running without disruption.

Despite the challenges of working in a live educational environment and navigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fontaine/W.T. Rich joint venture delivered the project on schedule and millions of dollars under budget.

To manage the complexity of the build, the team leveraged advanced construction technology, including Building Information Modeling (BIM) and virtual reality 3D modeling. These tools were used to support logistics planning, improve sequencing, and coordinate work across a tightly constrained site.

The project was recognized by ENR New England in its Best Projects program with an Award of Merit in the K-12 Education category, honoring its complex phased construction approach, innovative use of technology, and successful delivery on an active school campus.

Client: 
City of Worcester

Architect: 
LPA|A

Project Type: 
New Construction

Market: 
K-12 School

Size: 
360,000 sq. ft.