Greater Lowell Tech students and instructors stand with the newly constructed stage they built for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell. (Photo Courtesy Greater Lowell Technical SchSuperintendent-Director Jill Davis is pleased to share that Greater Lowell Technical High School students in the construction cluster recently completed construction on a new multipurpose stage for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell.
Superintendent-Director Jill Davis is pleased to share that Greater Lowell Technical High School students in the construction cluster recently completed construction on a new multipurpose stage for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell.
In December 2023, the construction cluster was tasked with building a multipurpose indoor stage at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell for youth performances, dances, and other events. The Club is in the process of a major renovation and expansion project.
Approximately 35 students worked on the project across the three career pathways: Carpentry, Electrical, and Painting and Design.
The carpentry team, led by Instructors Patrick Couillard and Jonathan Hickey, met with the design architect and BGCGL Deputy Executive Director JuanCarlos Rivera to discuss the proposed project and answer any questions.
Once the materials were ordered and on-site in January, Couillard’s team of seniors got to work constructing the stage over the next six weeks.
Hickey’s group of juniors helped construct the necessary staging to accomplish the project safely. Electrical Instructor Eric Weed and his students worked to supply power to the stage area and wire in power outlets in key locations for its many future uses.
Once the construction phase was completed, Painting and Design students under the guidance of Instructor Michael Donahue applied multiple coats of water-based polyurethane sealant to provide years of protection.
“The work was very tedious, and we didn’t want to mess it up. It was a long process, but it was also fun,” said Isabella Viera, a junior in the Painting and Design program. “This stage will be an outlet for people to express themselves any way they want to! We’re very proud of the work we did.”
At an event on Wednesday, May 8, students, instructors, and BGCGL members gathered together to admire the completed structure, which will greatly benefit the community of Greater Lowell.
Attendees gazed in awe toward the top of the 16-foot-tall structure, freshly stained while letting the integrity of the plywood shine, before settling in to enjoy pizza and celebrate their work.
Senior carpentry students Marisol Antongortee and Landon Murray both shared their pride in their work and how the project was an outstanding opportunity for students to gain hands-on, real-world experience.
“This was a great experience for all of us,” said Antongortee. “It’s amazing to see what we accomplished for the kids and the greater community. This project will hopefully open doors for Greater Lowell Tech to help with more projects in the future.”
Murray shared similar sentiments: “The project brought us all together while being able to work on such a large-scale structure. This stage will hopefully benefit the people of our City and we are really proud of what we’ve done.”
