East Providence, R.I. – On Monday, October 25, 2021, city and state leaders were on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new East Providence High School.
The new facility, the first major school project in Rhode Island in nearly 20 years, can accommodate over 1,500 students in grades 9-12. Designed by Ai3 Architects and constructed by Gilbane Building Company, the 305,000+ square foot school includes 11 accordion-folding fire and security doors throughout.
Won-Door’s SteelGuard™ doors serve as opening protectives in corridor separation applications and, with the inclusion of security software that can seamlessly integrate with the school’s security system, are an essential component in the building’s fire protection and hostile threat abatement strategy.
Borrowing money under a new state program and approved by voters, East Providence replaces an existing high school that was nearly 70 years old.
“It’s extremely exciting to be here compared to that old building. It has beautiful classrooms. Every classroom has windows. It’s bright. It’s airy. It’s in compliance with all the regulations for the basic education plan. It’s a great learning environment,”
East Providence Superintendent Kathryn Crowley.
The building’s design integrates East Providence Career and Technical Center into the new school. Collaboration space, in addition to traditional classrooms, will nurture an atmosphere of large and small group learning. Real-world education is further bolstered by the inclusion of clusters in the following disciplines: dentistry, nursing, and pharmaceutical trades, automotive and construction vocations, business and consumer services, graphic design and visual communication, engineering, robotics, computer-aided design and early childhood education. Even a student-run restaurant supporting a culinary program is included.
The timing of this school’s grand opening coincided with the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, so student and faculty health and safety was also a major consideration during construction. “We have a state-of-the-art facility keeping us safe,” Principal Tony Gibbons said. “From the size of the gymnasium to the walking track we can spread students out and keep them safe and give them the best education possible.”
East Providence High School is yet another example of how Won-Door’s fire and security products allow design professionals to provide maximum protection against smoke, fire and hostile events all the while maintaining an atmosphere truly conducive to the learning environment.
