Fairfax, VT – DEW Construction, in partnership with the Franklin West Supervisory Union, celebrated a significant milestone in the renovation and expansion of Bellows Free Academy (BFA) with a Topping Off Ceremony today. This event marked the placement of the final steel beam on the new entrance, signifying the completion of the structural framework for the school’s major renovation and expansion.
The project, which began earlier this year, involves 139,663 square feet of renovations and 17,922 square feet of new additions. The goal is to modernize BFA’s infrastructure, enhancing safety, accessibility, and functionality to better serve the students and faculty of this growing community. The expansion includes new classrooms and learning spaces for the elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as upgrades to common areas such as the science wing, music classrooms, and cafeteria.
To celebrate this significant achievement, DEW Construction hosted a pizza party for the entire on-site crew, expressing gratitude for their hard work and dedication. In a show of school pride, students and faculty from BFA were invited over the past week to sign the final steel beam before it was placed, leaving their mark on the building’s future.
“We are thrilled to reach this milestone and continue making progress on this project that will have a lasting impact on the students and staff of the Bellows Free Academy community,” said Todd Poirier, Superintendent at DEW Construction. “The Topping Off Ceremony is a celebration of teamwork, camaraderie among the workers and stakeholders, and the strong partnerships that have made this project possible.”
The renovation and expansion at BFA will enhance learning environments with new, state-of-the-art classrooms and modernized common spaces. The project also includes significant improvements to the school’s infrastructure, such as a redesigned entrance for improved security, updated fire safety systems, and energy-efficient upgrades to lighting, plumbing, and HVAC systems.
The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year. The school has remained operational throughout the duration of the project.
