PHOTOS: Greater Lowell Technical High School Cuts Ribbon on New Field House Built by Students and Instructors

Superintendent Jill Davis, at left, holds a blue and yellow ribbon while CTE instructors cut the ribbon to welcome the GLTHS community to a new field house that was built by students and instructors from the Masonry, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Carpentry and Painting and Design Technical Programs. From left are Superintendent Davis, Plumbing Instructor Garid Flood, Electrical Instructor Eric Weed, Painting and Design Instructor Michael Donahue, Carpentry Instructor Patrick Couillard, and Masonry Instructor William Piper. (Photo Courtesy Greater Lowell Technical High School)

TYNGSBOROUGH — The hard work and expertise of Greater Lowell Technical High School (GLTHS) students, guided by their Career Technical Education (CTE) instructors, were celebrated as the school officially cut the ribbon on its new Field House Amenities Building on Friday evening just before the Homecoming football game.

Located within the Gryphon Athletic Complex, the new Field House Amenities Building features a concession stand and ADA-accessible restrooms. The facility complements major upgrades completed in 2023, which included a multi-sport athletic turf field, new ADA-accessible grandstands with an upgraded press box and sound system, and an eight-lane, 400-meter running track surrounding the field.

Funding for these enhancements was made possible through the leadership and advocacy of the late Senator Edward Kennedy Jr., to whom the Greater Lowell Technical High School community will be forever grateful.

In 2023, Superintendent Davis approved a student-led construction project to design and build the new Field House from the ground up. Under the supervision of their CTE instructors, students from multiple technical programs collaborated to create a high-quality, functional facility that enhances the athletic complex, delivering the project at roughly half the cost while providing invaluable, real-world learning experiences for students.

“This field house will stand as a daily reminder of what can be accomplished when technical skill, teamwork, and perseverance come together,” said Superintendent Davis.

The project was completed under the leadership of Mark Lemay, Construction CTE Chair and a team of dedicated CTE instructors: William Piper and his Masonry students, Eric Weed and his Electrical students, Garid Flood and his Plumbing students, Mike Donahue and his Painting and Design students, Jeff Allard and his HVAC-R students, and Pat Couillard and his Carpentry students. Director of Plant Services, Erik Gitschier and the facilities maintenance staff Paul Morash, Brad Taylor, Mike Reilly, and Mike Lenzi Jr. also assisted efforts to build the facility.

Mark Lemay, Construction CTE Chairperson, expressed pride in the students’ efforts.

“Years from now, these students will walk onto this campus, look at this field house, and say with pride, ‘I put that roof on,’ ‘I wired that light,’ or ‘I built that wall.’ That’s something they’ll carry with them forever,” Lemay said.

Superintendent Davis praised the collaboration and dedication behind the effort.

“This field house is more than bricks and mortar — it’s a symbol of collaboration, dedication, and pride,” Superintendent Davis said. “Thanks to the expertise and commitment of so many, it was completed on schedule and within budget, an achievement we can all celebrate. What makes it truly special is that it was not only built for our students, but with them. Our Construction Cluster students and teachers played a vital role in bringing this vision to life from the ADA-accessible restrooms to the brand-new concession area and the finishing touches that make this space uniquely ours. Students and teachers, we are incredibly proud of you.”

The ribbon-cutting marks another milestone in Greater Lowell Technical High School’s commitment to project-based learning that empowers students to apply their technical skills to real-world projects benefiting their school and community.