In Bridgeport, a new 214,508-square-foot, $199 million Bullard-Havens Technical High School is rising: a three-story, state-of-the-art facility built to serve 13 trade programs and anchored by some of the most advanced sustainability systems in the state. Officially opening its doors to students on December 1, 2025, the campus also includes a new garage, field house, guard house, ticket booth, and redeveloped athletic fields, all constructed to meet Connecticut High Performance Building Standards. While, on its face, this project is a replacement for an aging facility, it also stands as a symbol of what happens when public service, partnership, and vision align. It reflects the State of Connecticut’s commitment to delivering 21st-century educational infrastructure that combines design excellence, sustainability, and community impact.
Just as her predecessors did, Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Commissioner Michelle Gilman has made Bullard-Havens a priority. “This project has been a focus for our agency, and I am incredibly grateful for our project management team and their dedication,” she said. “Their persistence is a big part of the reason we cut the ribbon on time, and the project is on budget.”
A Transformational Investment in Students and Community
For the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS), the new Bullard-Havens is transformational. Executive Director Dr. Alice Pritchard emphasized its significance:
“This new building represents a major investment in both CTECS and the greater Bridgeport community. It will give our students and community members access to state-of-the-art learning environments that better prepare them for in-demand, middle-class careers.”
She sees the project as the embodiment of CTECS’s direction:
“The new facility is innovative, industry-aligned, and focused on emerging workforce needs. It mirrors the environments students will encounter in the workforce and in higher education.”
DAS Deputy Commissioner Darren Hobbs framed it similarly, calling the school “a bold vision that has taken shape in the heart of Bridgeport,” and an example of how DAS supports “state partners in delivering state-of-the-art facilities.”
A Unified School Community Under One Roof
The design dramatically improves how the school community interacts and learns. Principal Dr. Sue Foss described what this means:
“Instead of three separate buildings, we are now united in one three-story space. This will allow students and staff to interact more frequently and build deeper relationships. Having everyone under one roof will improve communication and better support teaching and learning.”
Dr. Foss is particularly excited about the new shops and labs:
“These spaces truly reflect the level of industry our programs prepare students for. They elevate students’ hands-on learning, strengthen their technical skills, and provide pathways to their future careers.”
A Standout for Sustainability and Innovation
One of the school’s most defining features, and one of the reasons it will be the most sustainable technical high school in the state, is its groundbreaking geothermal system.
“Besides a handsome and efficient design,” said Chief Architect and Chief Sustainability Officer David Barkin, “the introduction of one of the largest geothermal systems in the state allows for a measurable reduction in carbon emissions in an environmental justice community, providing benefits to the neighborhood, the school, and to the state.”
This decision was years in the making. “DAS/RECS leadership, specifically technical services, which oversees Executive branch state construction standards, began advocating for a geothermal heating and cooling plant before selection of an architect began,” Barkin explained. When funding was approved, the team was ready. Contracts were already structured to incorporate the system without delay.
CTECS facilities director Don Poulin highlighted additional strategies:
“Thoughtful and selective use of building materials, the geothermal well field, a comprehensive building automation system, and a design ready for solar installation will result in Bullard-Havens being the most energy-efficient school in our district.”
Managing a Complex Project Without Disruption
The new high school was constructed on the same site as the existing one, without disrupting instruction. Barkin noted:
“Building a new school on an existing school site without disrupting the school operations is a challenge. Thanks to careful logistics, the education at the existing BHTHS was unaffected and the work on the new school remained on schedule and on budget.”
DAS’s disciplined project management model was key. “Our system of project control allows for strategic monitoring from designer selection through closeout,” Barkin said. “All participants worked effectively as a team.”
CTECS Technology Director Kevin McFarland emphasized the importance of flexibility:
“Changes in educational theory, technology, and statutory obligations may require changes mid-stream. Luckily, the DAS project management team and the design and construction teams were all flexible to accommodate as much of this as possible.”
A Project Labor Agreement That Strengthened the Build
A key ingredient to the success of the Bullard-Havens project was that it was built under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA). The agreement, signed by Gilbane Building Company, the Fairfield County Building & Construction Trades Council, and the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, established a cooperative labor framework designed to support smooth and uninterrupted construction.
The PLA set clear expectations for how work would be carried out, ensuring consistent work rules, uninterrupted labor, and a structured process to quickly resolve any disputes that might arise. It also guaranteed access to a skilled and experienced workforce across the various trades needed for a project of this scale, including the complex geothermal and high-performance building systems that make Bullard-Havens the most sustainable technical high school in the state.
Importantly, the agreement encouraged opportunities for apprentices, local residents, women, minorities, and veterans to participate in the project’s workforce. By stabilizing labor conditions during a period when many construction projects faced market and staffing uncertainties, the PLA provided predictability that helped keep Bullard-Havens on time and on budget, reinforcing what Commissioner Michelle Gilman described as the project team’s persistence and dedication.
Technology That Sets a New Standard
Bullard-Havens is now the most technologically advanced school in the CTECS portfolio. “The HVAC, lighting, and information technology systems are all advanced and allow for flexibility of use,” McFarland said. “Flexible spaces and building controls can help us adapt to new needs over time.”
The final phase required intense coordination:
McFarland noted that, at the height of move-in season, when final construction details were being completed, furniture and equipment were arriving on site, and staff were preparing to relocate during an active school year, the team remained steady and focused. They adjusted when needed, avoided major issues, and handled smaller challenges quickly as they arose.
Collaboration Without Ego
Across DAS and CTECS, one theme emerged repeatedly: teamwork.
“There were really no egos that stood in the way of successful collaboration across the boards,” Barkin said. “All parties understood their roles and contributed as needed.”
Poulin agreed:
“The knowledge and expertise of the DAS staff and leadership was instrumental in delivering this project on time and within budget.”
People Who Made a Difference
Behind every major state project are the people who make it work. Bullard-Havens is no exception.
Within DAS
- Sarah Tierney, Assistant Director of Project Management, provided essential leadership through key staffing transitions. Barkin said her “leadership and continuity clearly contributed to successful outcomes.”
- JaCinta Frazier, Project Manager, stayed on through retirement to ensure the project reached completion — a commitment Barkin praised.
- Barbara Cosgrove, Project Manager, who represented DAS prior to her retirement.
- Ira Henowitz, Project Manager, supported day-to-day coordination and delivery.
- DAS Building and Safety Teams including:
- William Hannon, Frank Conte and Stephen Doyon, Building Officials
- Roger Martin, Fire Marshal
- Phillip Maddern, Elevator Inspector
- Michael Devanney, Chief Boiler Inspector
- These professionals ensured the school met every safety and building code requirement.
- Support also came from Legal and Policy Procurement, the Business Office, BITS, Fleet Operations, and other DAS divisions whose behind-the-scenes contributions kept the project moving.
Within CTECS
- Dr. Pritchard credited:
- Kevin McFarland
- Don Poulin
- Dr. Susan Foss
- “The entire Bullard-Havens team,” plus their CO consultants for their dedication to preparing the school, programming the shops, and planning the move-in.
Design + Construction Partners
- JCJ Architecture (Brian Stone & Fawn Pellegrini)
- Arcadis (Robert Tencza & Tanner Kahre)
- Gilbane Building Company (Marcus Brennan, Chris Kier, Jeff Gilbeault, & Dejuan Gray)
Their expertise translated the state’s goals into a building built for durability, safety, and student success.
A Legacy for Generations
The leaders involved agree that the impact of this school will last far beyond opening day.
Pritchard said, “I am most proud that, as we open these doors, we’re opening new possibilities for our students and their families. … What makes me proud is knowing that this new school has the power to change the trajectory of a young person’s life.”
Foss added, “This has been a long time coming, and it’s incredible to see the staff’s hard work and commitment reflected in a space that truly supports learning, teaching, and our school community.”
Poulin emphasized the long-term benefits:
“Generations of students will be educated in a school that exceeds most energy efficiency goals and incorporates efficiencies within the building layout.”
Hobbs framed it most broadly:
“Beginning with the literal foundation for this new school, the project has delivered the figurative foundation for the hopes and dreams of generations of students and their families.”
A School and a Future Built to Last
From geothermal innovation to industry-aligned labs, from unified community spaces to advanced technology systems, from persistent project management to a resilient school community. the new Bullard-Havens Technical High School represents the very best of Connecticut’s public service.
It is a school built not only for today, but for the next generation of thinkers, makers, and leaders who will shape the state’s future.
