Construction of New Cape Tech Building Officially Underway Following Groundbreaking

Matt Pitta/CapeCod.com

HARWICH – Construction is officially underway for the new Cape Cod Regional Technical High School following a groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning.

Cape Tech officials joined representatives from the Massachusetts School Building Administration, State Education Commissioner Jeff Riley, and other notable politicians at 351 Pleasant Avenue in Harwich, the site of the proposed building, for the ceremony.

“Today is about the driving philosophy of this school: What is in the best interest of students?” said Cape Tech Superintendent Robert Sanborn in his address preceding the groundbreaking.

“For 45 years our district community has partnered with the Tech family to help provide the answer to this question. As the hard hats go on and the shovels hit the ground in a few moments, a groundbreaking, a symbolic time honored in ceremony, will celebrate the students and staff who have studied and worked in this building over the last 45 years while simultaneously serving to break new ground for thousands of students over the next 50 years.”

The new school will set a focus on the educational model known as STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Hospitality, transportation, and construction academies will also be available at the new school.

State Rep. Will Crocker (2nd Barnstable – R) shared the same message delivered by State Senator Julian Cyr, saying that students educated at Cape Tech year after ensures they will “put their roots in this community to continue this community.”

“I think if you look at studies, you’ll see that with tradesman, the average age is in the mid-to-late fifties,” Crocker explained.

“We need to be able to teach our children here on Cape Cod the skills that they need to be able to start their own business, the skills to continue their own business, to be able to continue our community.” 

Bratt Builders, based out of Marshfield, is the lead contractor on the project at a $91,376,000 price tag. The state’s School Building Administration will cover 51-percent of construction costs.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2020.

By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center