News

Officials celebrate the completion of the PEC November 22, 2023

LINCOLN – Officials and residents last week celebrated the opening of the highly anticipated Lincoln High School Physical Education Center, marking the completion of the building and final phase of the remaking of Lincoln High School.

A Nov. 15 ceremony hosted by School Supt. Larry Filippelli featured speeches from Gov. Dan McKee, School Committee member Mario Carreno, Town Administrator Phil Gould, School Committee Chairperson Joseph Goho, co-head of the PEC Building Committee and Town Council President Keith Macksoud, School Committee member and co-head of the PEC building committee Steve Carvalho, Associate Director of R.I.’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Tomas Avila, and LHS Principal Ken Hopkins.

Less than a year ago, the final beam was placed on top of the PEC. Now, the $8.2 million facility is fully complete with two full athletic courts, an indoor practice track, custom Lincoln Lion wall mats, and state-of-the-art scoreboards.

“This is very impressive,” said Carreno regarding the appearance of the PEC, “but we’re not actually here to celebrate the structure of this building, we’re here to celebrate the opportunity that this building and the high school next to it will create for our kids who will go here over the next few years.”

He said learning environments and structures such as the PEC are crucial in providing positive educational experiences for students, who are the future of Lincoln and of Rhode Island.

Officials said they hope the PEC will leave a lasting impact on students, just as former Town Administrator Joseph Almond, and longtime Hall of Fame athletic coach and educator Peter Moreau, whom the space was dedicated to, have.

“Their contributions have left an indelible mark, shaping the foundation of our educational and athletic programs for the benefit of generations to come,” said Goho.

Macksoud described the PEC as “gorgeous,” and said it “is a testament to what can happen when government works the way it’s supposed to, which is to serve its community and meet the needs of its citizens.”

Filippelli, along with other officials, echoed Macksoud’s sentiment, saying “this project could not have come to pass without the cooperation of all of our town departments coming together for the betterment of our students.”

All speakers described the process of working with fellow officials on the project as a positive experience and an effort of true collaboration.

Each also expressed gratitude to RGB Architects, which designed the building, builders at Ahlborg Construction, and Downes Project Managers, which oversaw the project.

The PEC was originally supposed to be fully functional for the start of this school year, but there were complications with a switch gear, which was back-ordered and took more than a year to arrive.

Had it not been for those complications, Macksoud said he believes the facility would’ve been opened in August as originally intended.

Despite delays, the PEC was considered substantially complete on time in accordance with Rhode Island Department of Education deadlines, qualifying the town for $4.7 million in state reimbursement.

The PEC is also the first net-zero school building in the state, according to officials, meaning the solar panels being installed on its roof will create equal or greater amounts of energy than what the building will use. This helps to decrease the town’s carbon emissions and lower electricity costs.

“May this be a space where friendships are forged, where talents are discovered, and where the spirit of community lives,” said Gould.

Hopkins said he believes the court is a classroom, and that LHS students and faculty are committed to using the PEC to the fullest extent, making it a place that is “cherished by all who enter.”

The PEC will not be open for general use for the public, but will host parks and recreation activities and youth leagues affiliated with the town, in addition to being available for LHS students.

Article & Photos from / Valley Breeze Staff Writer: Officials celebrate the completion of the PEC | News | valleybreeze.com

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