Shawmut Completes East Providence’s $128 Million New Martin Middle School  

Shawmut celebrated the official ribbon cutting on the new 164,000 square-foot Martin Middle School l in East Providence, R.I., with officials from the City, School District, State of Rhode Island as well as design partners, Peregrine group and Ai3 Architects.

The new Martin Middle School, built adjacent to the former school, will reshape the educational landscape for students in grades 6-8 in the city of East Providence. The new facility features three floors, one for each grade level; 34 modern classrooms equipped with flexible seating options and interactive technology, three collaborative learning spaces strategically located through the building to offer areas for teamwork, project-based learning and cross-curricular activities; six state-of-the-art science classrooms featuring lab stations, modern equipment, and safety systems to enhance STEM instruction, as well as a media center and art classrooms with a kiln to enhance the school’s ceramics and three-dimensional art offerings.

Additionally, this learning space features computer science and technology classrooms to provide students the opportunity to learn coding, robotics, and digital media, a chorus room, band room and a renovation to the gymnasium including new scoreboards, backboards and structural reinforcement work. The gymnasium will serve as the hub for physical education and athletics, while also functioning as a venue for school assemblies, extracurricular events and community programs.

“With deep roots here in Rhode Island, projects like this carry special meaning for our team, and we were honored to help bring the vision for East Providence’s renewed Martin Middle School to life,” said Chris Maury, Head of Preconstruction, New England Region and Head of Rhode Island Operations at Shawmut. “Together with our project partners, we ensured the school, its students, and the community could continue to operate seamlessly and undisturbed while ushering in this next era of learning. We’re proud to have delivered a facility that will serve students, educators, and families for years to come.”

Students at Martin Middle School will attend their first day of classes in the new building after Thanksgiving break, on Monday, December 1, 2025.

The existing half of the old building will soon be torn down to make way for the construction of the district’s new Pre-K hub, which will hold 16 classrooms. That portion of the project is slated to be complete and open in 2027.

The City of East Providence and its residents approved a $148 million bond (78.2% approval) in November of 2022, with $128 million slated for Martin Middle School and an additional $20 million allocated for renovations and improvements to Waddington Elementary School. Shawmut led construction and broke ground on the Martin Middle School project on April 4, 2024.

 “These investments will not only strengthen our education system but create opportunities for generations of East Providence residents and is another example of how this city is moving forward as the best place to live, learn, work and play,” said Mayor Bob DaSilva.

“I thank the people of East Providence for believing in our schools, our educators and most importantly, our children’s future,” said Superintendent Dr. Sandra Forand.

Rhode Island Department of Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green congratulated the school community on the opening. “This project reflects our commitment to creating modern, welcoming spaces that inspire learning and growth,” she said. “By investing in schools like Martin Middle, we send a powerful message to students, families, and educators that their experience matters. I am deeply grateful to the state, city, and community partners whose collaboration made this achievement possible.”