With renovation project nearly done, school chief thanks those who helped out

Students relax in the sunny second floor lounge and study area. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - A brand new 60-seat restaurant and a full-service branch bank open five days a week will be just two of the stunning additions the public will find when the Richard W. Creteau Technology Center opens this month after a $16 million renovation project that began two years ago.

The new restaurant, Our House Café, will be open to the public and operated by the school's culinary arts program.

Also the Holy Rosary Credit Union recently reopened their branch bank at the Tech Center, but now it will be open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Its location has also moved from the rear of the Tech Center to the front, just down the hall from the restaurant.

Workers are still busy putting the finishing touches on the renovation project, which will be celebrated Jan. 22 when the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce presents a Business After Hours event hosted by the Tech Center.

On Thursday Rochester Schools Superintendent Kyle Repucci on behalf of the entire Rochester school community thanked all those who helped to make the renovation project such a huge success.

The renovation to the Spaulding High School's R.W. Creteau Technology Center, which was built in 1991, began in May 2018 and is anticipated to be completed in the coming weeks.

Donors to the project included North East Precision, ECM Global Metrology, Eastern Propane, Strogens, Townsend Oil and Propane, Frisbie Hospital, Holy Rosary Credit Union and Sensitech Incorporated.

"As this renovation comes to a close, we are incredibly thankful to all those who have donated toward and supported this project," Repucci said. "Our students are going to benefit greatly from having access to improved learning spaces and state-of-the-art equipment as they continue to learn, practice and hone their skills in various career technical programs."

Renovations have also allowed the expansion of the school's automotive program which now has additional bays to service cars.

All career technical education programs that utilize the renovated center will also benefit from updated, modernized classroom space. New, state-of-the-art equipment has also been introduced at the center including CNC machines, surface mount lifts, furnaces, engines lathes and restaurant equipment.

In all, the project cost $16.8 million, 75% of which was funded by the state, Repucci noted.