The Daily Dig
Stamford has broken ground on the new Westhill High School, a project state officials expect to be the largest school construction project in Connecticut history. The ceremony took place June 2, 2026, at the existing campus on 125 Roxbury Road, with city, state, and school officials on hand to mark the start of a rebuild that has been years in the making.
The scope calls for constructing a new 450,000 square foot facility on the same 32-acre site. The new school is designed for up to 2,458 students and will include nearly 100 classrooms, career pathway spaces, science and chemistry classrooms, an indoor pool facility, and a performing arts center. The building is targeting LEED Silver Certification and the target opening is August 2029.
The existing school will remain occupied during construction and be demolished only after the new building is substantially complete. Site work began in April 2026, and a dedicated construction access road via Long Ridge Road is already in place. The existing agriscience building is being retained and integrated into the new campus design. Student parking areas are closed for the duration of construction.
The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services has committed to reimbursing 80% of the project's $446 million estimated cost, putting the state's contribution at up to $356.8 million. The Stamford Board of Finance approved a guaranteed maximum price of $353.4 million for the construction work in March. City Director of Operations Matthew Quinones has noted that soft costs of $45 million to $50 million could push the all-in total above $400 million.
The project team includes architects The S/L/A/M Collaborative and Amenta Emma, owner's representative Collier's Project Leaders, and construction manager at risk Dimeo / Bismark, a joint venture.
Snapshot:
Project: Westhill High School Replacement
Address: 125 Roxbury Road, Stamford, Connecticut
Site: 32 acres
New Building Size: 450,000 sq ft
Student Capacity: 2,458
Classrooms: Nearly 100
Key Facilities: Indoor pool, performing arts center, career pathway spaces, science and chemistry classrooms
Construction GMP: $353.4 million
Estimated Total (GMP + soft costs): $400M+ (per City Director of Operations)
State Cost Estimate: $446 million
Soft Costs: $45M to $50M (estimated, not included in GMP)
State Reimbursement: Up to $356.8 million (80% of $446M state estimate)
Sustainability Target: LEED Silver Certification
Delivery: Phased; existing school remains operational throughout construction
Existing Building: Remains occupied during construction; demolished after substantial completion of new building
Agriscience Building: Retained and integrated into new campus design
Student Parking: On-campus parking closed during construction; reopens with new building in 2029
Site Work Started: April 2026
Groundbreaking: June 2, 2026
Target Opening: August 2029
Owner: City of Stamford
Architects: The S/L/A/M Collaborative and Amenta Emma
Owner's Representative: Collier's Project Leaders
Construction Manager at Risk: Dimeo / Bismark, a Joint Venture
State Agency: Connecticut Department of Administrative Services
Sector: Public Education / K-12
TheJobWalk Thoughts
Dimeo / Bismark winning this as a joint venture is a signal worth paying attention to. CM at Risk on an occupied campus with a sequenced demolition at the back end rewards teams with strong subcontractor relationships and real experience managing constrained, phased sites. Firms that have not worked with this JV before should be doing that homework now, before packages hit the street.
The $45 to $50 million in soft costs sitting outside the GMP is the figure that matters most to subs on this job. That money is estimated, not committed. On public projects, when soft costs run over, owners have a documented pattern of looking for savings inside the construction budget. Subs should price their scopes fully, push for clearly defined allowances, and not assume the GMP ceiling insulates them from scope compression down the line.
The demolition sequence is a detail every trade needs to understand before bidding. The existing school stays occupied and fully operational until the new building is substantially complete, which means the site is constrained from day one through project closeout. Logistics, staging, and access all carry real cost implications that will not show up in the drawings. Contractors who underestimate that will feel it in the field.
