InsideLowell’s AI Correspondents Artie Fishal and Ellie Gentz filed this report.

LOWELL — The Lowell School Building Committee convened on January 15, 2026, to mark a major milestone in the high school renovation project and address mounting concerns regarding budget contingencies and facility maintenance.

The meeting served as a formal transition point as officials confirmed the completion of Phase 3A and the commencement of the project’s fourth and final major phase.

Phase 4 Commences as Building A Opens

Representatives from Skanska, Suffolk, and Perkins Eastman reported that Building A, the 1922 structure, was officially turned over to the school on Monday, January 5. Classroom, corridors, and restrooms are now in use, while the TV studio, dance room, and chorus room in the basement are nearing completion.

Phase 4 is now underway, encompassing work on the remainder of the 1922 and 1890s buildings with a scheduled substantial completion date of June 2027. Final site finishes and landscaping are expected to follow through the summer of 2027.

Demolition “Surprises” and Financial Setbacks

Project managers disclosed that only two weeks into Phase 4 demolition, they have already encountered unexpected challenges in the 100-year-old structures.

Kevin Kane, Project Director at Skanska, admitted to the committee, “we have seen some surprises” during the early demolition work, though he noted that nothing has been fully quantified yet. Kaine emphasized a cautious approach to reporting these issues: “I’d rather have an answer to something than say that we got a problem, Houston, we got a problem. We really need an answer first”.

However, some committee members took issue with the terminology used to describe these discoveries.

Recent Lowell High graduate Kendrick Del Orb argued that the word was inadequate given the stakes, stating, “I think to label what the construction team is finding as surprises is a little bit too trivial… I think these are financial setbacks that are costing the taxpayers of Lowell”.

Auditorium Delays and Technical Challenges

The committee revealed that the school’s auditorium turnover has been delayed until March 1, 2026.

While seats are installed, the project team is grappling with a 12-week lead time for permanent handrails being manufactured in Kansas City.

Justin Lyons, Vice President/Project Executive for Suffolk, was candid about the struggle, stating, “it’s been a difficult process I’m not going to lie,” and noted that the team may install temporary wooden handrails to meet ADA requirements for the March opening.

Budget Scrutiny and the $36.2 Million Loan Order

A significant portion of the meeting focused on a $36.2 million loan order request submitted to the City Council to see the project through to completion. The total project budget currently stands at $381 million. The new funding request includes:

• $11.9 million for Suffolk’s general conditions (staffing, safety, and utilities).
• $6 million for subcontractor extensions and material escalation.
• $11.5 to $11.7 million for construction contingency to handle unforeseen issues.

Committee members expressed concern over whether this would be the final request for funds.

Former Lowell Mayor and City Councilor, Bill Samaras, asked project leaders if there was “some type of assurity to say that this will be the final cost,” noting that earlier in the project, they were given “almost absolutes” regarding renovation projections.

He also remarked on the predictability of basement issues in the old buildings.

“I was in that building for over 20 years and we’re right next to a canal,” Samaras stated. “I would have told you it’s a problem”.

Persistent Maintenance Failures and Safety Concerns

Committee members also voiced intense frustration over ongoing equipment failures, particularly with elevators and door hardware.

Rick Underwood, Operations and Maintenance Director for Lowell Public Schools, shared a personal account of the technical issues, stating, “I was stuck in one of the elevators myself… a few weeks ago,” and noted that the fire department has been called three or four times for similar incidents.

Lyons suggested the issues might stem from the “sensitivity of the new modern elevators and the sensors” rather than installation flaws.

Regarding door maintenance, Deputy Facilities Manager for Lowell Public Schools John Leahy expressed exasperation over costs and functionality: “It’s driving us crazy… we just had to replace a door lock for $1,200”.

He pointed out that with an election approaching, “four out of the six doors where people are going to go in to vote aren’t working”.

In response, the team announced that the hardware supplier will conduct a comprehensive four-day inspection of every lock and hinge starting next Friday.

Workforce Diversity Update

The meeting concluded with a workforce report showing that minority participation remains a bright spot, at 26.7%, far exceeding the 15.3% goal.

However, female workforce participation stands at 5.2%, trailing the 6.9% project goal, and Lowell resident employment is currently at 8.72%.

The next School Building Committee meeting is scheduled for February 26, 2026.