NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Greylock neighborhood has been alerted to the beginning of demolition at the old Greylock School. 

 

Construction equipment is already at the site and the trees that lined Phelps Avenue in front of the school have been removed. 

 

A superintendent at the site confirmed that some abatement was occurring in preparation for demolition of the 1951 elementary school to make way for a new building. 

 

The $51 million project was awarded to Fontaine Bros. Inc. of Springfield last month. The entire project is estimated at $65 million though it is currently running $2 million under budget. 

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey, chair of the School Committee, wrote to residents in the area to inform them of the possibility of disruption from noise and construction equipment. 

 

City Councilor Marie McCarron read the letter into the council's minutes on Tuesday night. The mayor was not present.

 

In the missive, the mayor noted the city has entered into the agreement with Fontaine as general contractor and that Collier's International, as the owner's project manager, will continue to guide the project. 

 

"You may notice increased activity in the area surrounding the school, including construction vehicles, equipment and occasional noise during the week of March, 9, 2026," she wrote. "The general contractor is expected to mobilize equipment on site to begin demolition and abatement of the existing building. Around the same time, installation of the site fencing in the initial stages of the site work will begin." 

 

The mayor said the project team will be on site daily and will work closely with the general contractor to make sure any activities are within the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

 

"We are committed to maintaining clear and consistent communication with the neighborhood throughout this approximately 18-month project," Macksey wrote. "Updates will be shared through the school website and newsletters and will include information about major milestones, any changes to traffic patterns and activities that may temporarily affect the surrounding area."

 

Anyone wishing to receive periodic construction updates can provide their email address to Jeffrey Manley at Jeffrey.Manly@Collierseng.com or Todd Ashford at Todd.Ashford@Collierseng.com.