26 High-Profile Focus: Schools and Institutions
September 2026
George T. Nasuti Elementary School Begins to Rise
By Regina Nealon
With DOC guiding construction management and field expertise, the $ 75.9 million school will bring flexible classrooms, community spaces, and future-ready design to the former Barry Field site.
A new chapter for elementary education is taking shape at the former Barry Field site, where construction is underway on the George T. Nasuti Elementary School. Under a design-build
Aerial image of construction in progress
approach, DOC is serving as construction manager for the $ 75.9 million, 133,000 SF facility, bringing construction expertise, field coordination, and cost insight partnering alongside the Woonsocket Education Department( WED), the Rhode Island Department of Education( RIDE), Downes, and Jonathan Levi Architects( JLA). Once completed, the school will serve Pre-K through Grade 4 students.
Built for Learning and the Community
Inside, the school is planned as a vibrant, modern learning environment with classrooms, STEAM labs, special education spaces, a learning common, music room, media center, stage, gymnasium, medical suite, staff areas, and administrative offices.
The building will also feature a selfsustaining kitchen, servery, cafeteria,
Brightwood Lincoln Elementary School
Springfield MA
Entrance of George T. Nasuti Elementary School
and faculty dining room sized to support approximately 1,200 students and staff. Beyond the school day, the cafeteria, stage, and gymnasium are intended to welcome community events and programming.
Designed to meet NE-CHPS Version 4.0 standards, the school places equal emphasis on energy efficiency, healthy indoor environments, flexible learning areas, and future photovoltaic readiness.
Learning common space
DOC’ s One-Team Approach Takes Shape
Since celebrating a topping-off ceremony earlier this summer, DOC’ s construction management leadership team has championed a one-team approach. Communication sits at the center of that effort, driven by weekly capital planning meetings covering RFIs, submittals, schedule, budget, constructability, and field decisions, with every team member having a seat at the table.
Value Through Partnership: How DOC Is Shaping a Future-Ready School
DOC’ s construction management expertise has helped keep the project moving from concept into the field. From the earliest design stages, DOC partnered with JLA, RIDE, and city stakeholders
Cafeteria
to align design decisions with budget, schedule, functionality, constructability, and long-term value.
• Improved learning layouts: Helped revise classroom plans to create more shared and collaborative spaces.
• Reduced sitework and utility costs: Supported shifting the school closer to the road to shorten utility runs and take advantage of stronger ground conditions.
• Advanced constructability: Coordinated façade decisions with the pre-engineered gym building to support quality, schedule, and cost goals.
• Strengthened coordination: Led capital planning discussions around RFIs, submittals, schedule, budget, and field decisions.
• Protected future flexibility: PV infrastructure so solar can be added when funding becomes available. Through these contributions, DOC is delivering a future-ready elementary school that supports learning, community connection, and long-term growth. The project remains on track to open for students in fall of 2027.
Regina Nealon is senior marketing operations specialist at DOC.
Signed beam placed
Our commercial structures are fully engineered, site-specific, and designed to integrate seamlessly into your project.
17 Trotter Drive, Medway, Massachusetts 02053 508-359-4200- www. obrienandsons. com
Fields and back of building www. high-profile. com