The Norwich School Building Committee heard detailed construction updates Wednesday, including accelerated steel erection at Greenville Elementary that led the contractor to suggest moving the ceremonial beam-raising to the next day to avoid crane demobilization costs. Committee members approved invoices and several project change orders related to ongoing site work.

CSG, the committee’s construction manager, told members most work on the steel erection progressed faster than expected and the crane scheduled to erect the gymnasium beam would demobilize at the end of the week. “Because the steel guys accelerated their work, they are looking to demobilize the crane at the end of this week so the crane wouldn't necessarily be there,” a CSG representative said, and the committee agreed to allow a recorded, limited-access event to be held the following morning for committee members and a small group of attendees. The event will be recorded for students who cannot attend in person; committee members were advised the site will be muddy and to wear boots.

At Stanton, the contractor reported pouring the entire second-floor suspended concrete slab, about 24,000 square feet. Photographs shown to the committee documented slab placement, curing cover, structural rebar and the start of slab-on-grade prep on the south end. The construction superintendent said utilities at Stanton and Greenville are nearing completion, including the primary electric duct bank and secondary service, generator conduits and telecom, though switchgear delivery is now projected in March 2026 and the team is working to improve that timeline.

CSG also reported ongoing site work at Greenville including retaining-wall construction, detention-system precast placement, and extensive rock removal. The contractor has completed dozens of blasts on the Greenville site, and — to reduce potential liability near concrete pours — said it will stop blasting the day before foundations are poured and use mechanical removal for remaining rock.

The committee was shown progress photos and drone views of grading, retaining walls (Walls 1A/1B and upcoming 4C) and the building pad footprint. Committee members raised standard safety concerns around site access for attendees during the beam event and were told the team would limit on-site access and provide personal protective equipment.

Ending: Members asked for continued schedule tracking and cautioned that schedule impacts from the additional pre-blast surveys at Greenville (about two months of early work) and the late electrical equipment delivery could affect substantial completion dates; CSG said it will return with any revised date recommendations and cost implications.