Explore our joint venture team, accelerated schedule, and why Fontaine + Dimeo is the right partner for Needham's next generation.
Fontaine Bros. + Dimeo Construction Joint Venture
Fontaine: 4th generation, founded 1933, headquartered in Springfield. Dimeo: 5th generation, founded 1930, headquartered in Johnston, RI. Two family companies united by the same values — craftsmanship, accountability, and community.
Currently building the $268M Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester together. Not a new experiment — a proven collaboration with established systems, communication protocols, and trust. JV SPL: $320M.
Three Professional Engineers. Six Passive House Certified Builders. 100% MSBA experience across the team. Average DCAMM evaluation ratings of 96 (Fontaine) and 95 (Dimeo) — zero projects below passing.
Phase 1 starts July 2027 instead of March 2028. Phase 2 completes August 2031 instead of July 2032. Reduces disruption to students, staff, and neighbors — and lets Needham move forward with the High Rock and Mitchell projects sooner.
Driven by resequencing of work and strategic relocation of geothermal well fields to Warner Field. Geothermal relocation alone is projected to save Needham $1 million through a single-phase drilling operation, optimized dewatering, and reduced site disruption.
David Fontaine Sr. and David Fontaine Jr. are personally invested in every aspect of this project. Additionally: Brian Davies (in-house MEP Director), Steve Gelinas (VDC/LiDAR Director), Mark Bisson (Safety Director), Liz Wambui (Diversity Director), and a full support team of estimators and MEP specialists are engaged from preconstruction through closeout.
A dedicated construction updates website for the Pollard project — accessible to every neighbor, parent, and community member. Real-time construction schedules, traffic routing, noise-impact windows, and a direct contact form to reach the construction team with questions or concerns.
Phase 1: all construction vehicles enter via Dedham Ave/I-95. Phase 2: Great Plain Ave/I-95. Zero construction traffic through Needham Center or residential side streets. Neighbors see trucks on arterials, not their streets.
High-impact work (pile driving, demolition, heavy equipment) scheduled during school hours when most residents are at work. Weekend and evening work restricted. Seasonal adjustments for outdoor community use of DeFazio Park.
Mark Abdella, Needham resident, leads a proactive outreach strategy: pre-construction neighborhood meetings, monthly update mailers, animated logistics visualization accessible by QR code, and a direct point of contact for every abutter concern.
Demo modular classrooms, establish temporary parking, relocate utilities, and install site separation fencing. Simultaneously: geothermal borehole drilling at Warner Field (approximately 120 boreholes, Aug–Jan). Support of excavation installation, site to subgrade, and site utilities begin. Using an existing curb cut on Dedham Ave for a dedicated construction entrance — completely separate from school operations.
Foundations for academic wings and shared spaces (kitchen, cafeteria, gym, 750-seat theater). Structural steel erection April–July 2028, metal decking, then building envelope and roofing through end of 2028. Interior fit-out runs through late 2029: architectural, MEP, life-safety. Phase 1 includes Grades 7–8 academic wings, kitchen, cafeteria, gymnasium, and theater. Substantial completion December 2029 — teachers relocate into the new building over winter break.
Site logistics reconfiguration. Demolition of the existing Pollard building. Phase 2 earthwork, foundations, and structural steel for the Grade 6 Academy and Administration wing. Warner Field provides temporary parking during this transition. Phase 2 scope: approximately 70,000–95,000 SF for the Grade 6 "school within a school," administration, and remaining sitework.
Building envelope, interior fit-out, and commissioning of the Grade 6 Academy. Final exterior work, athletic fields, and full Warner Field restoration. Phase 2 substantial completion July 2031. Project substantial completion August 2031. The completed Pollard Middle School reunites 6th grade with 7th and 8th grades for the first time — fulfilling the 2022 Schools Master Plan vision.
One continuous drilling operation instead of multiple mobilizations across different phases. Eliminates redundant setup costs, simplifies dewatering, and reduces the number of required vaults.
Relocating drilling to Warner Field eliminates the need for sound attenuation near the active school and neighboring residences. Safer, less congested drilling environment.
Avoids drilling on sloped, uneven terrain near the school. Flat, open Warner Field enables an efficient single borehole grid. Preserves critical Pollard site space for building construction.
At Agawam High School, Chelsey Mutrie led a redesign from 180 shallow wells to 150 deeper wells — saving over $1M while improving system performance. The same optimization mindset applied to Pollard.
All-electric, low-EUI building targeting EUI of ~25. Ground-source heat pump system with ~120 boreholes. Compliance with MA Specialized Energy Code. Solar-ready parking canopies.
63-point LEED scorecard. Enhanced indoor environmental quality. MSBA High-Efficiency Green School incentives. Low-emitting materials with full transparency documentation.
Backup power systems. Daylighting and operable windows. Stormwater resilience for increased storm intensity. Advanced energy metering and BAS integration.
Active commuter rail adjacent to the site. We treat MBTA requirements as planned scope, not unknown risk. JoEllen Villari is our dedicated liaison. Rail Interface Access Plan, credential verification, and flagging services built into budget as a defined cost category — not contingency.
Mark Abdella is a Needham resident who understands how information travels through interconnected social circles. Community Advisory Network strategy. Animated logistics visualization accessible by QR code for public meetings.
Major excavation with lower level at elevation 130.0, upper at 160.0. 25,000–30,000 CY of excess soil to manage. Stabilized slopes, temporary sediment basin, full SWPPP compliance, and EPA NPDES permitting.
Matt Wilder's top-down "dance floor" method creates a temporary flat working surface above sloped seating. Proven on Doherty, South High, West Springfield, Walpole, East Bridgewater, and Middleborough.
Building new while the existing Pollard stays fully operational. Separate construction entrance via Dedham Ave curb cut. All site logistics mapped phase-by-phase for student safety, bus circulation, and emergency egress.
Four strategic early packages to lock in pricing and maintain schedule: (1) Site enabling & geothermal, (2) Sitework & concrete, (3A) Structural steel, (3B) Long-lead electrical switchgear/generator. Extended warranties protect Phase 1 through Phase 2 completion.
Dozens of homes surrounding the campus on Bradford, Harris, Glenwood, Eoulton Park, and Arthur. Traffic routing avoids residential streets. Seasonal scheduling. DeFazio Park fields preserved except Warner Field (fully restored at completion).
Wetland protection throughout with fencing, erosion control barriers, and buffer zones. Stormwater management integrated into every phase. Sediment basin at tennis court location during construction.
Precision reality capture for existing conditions. 4D BIM coordination with phasing elements modeled as past, present, and future. Clash detection completed before any trade fabrication begins.
AI-powered peer review of design documents flags constructability, coordination, and code compliance issues — augmenting (not replacing) our Professional Engineers' expert review.
Brian Davies reviews every mechanical system for operability, not just code compliance. BMS compatibility with existing Needham public buildings confirmed upfront. Your facilities team can actually run these systems.
Full MBTA coordination on a major project adjacent to the Green Line in Mission Hill. Dimeo managed all rail-interface safety, credentialing, and flagging operations. Directly applicable to Needham Line work at Pollard.
Transit-adjacent construction in downtown Boston. Coordination with active MBTA operations, public right-of-way, and urban site constraints. The same systematic approach we bring to Pollard.
Our proven joint venture in action. New high school built on an occupied campus. Community engagement model with living classroom program and career day drone tours. The same JV team, same systems, same partnership for Pollard.
Chelsey Mutrie led the redesign of the geothermal system from 180 shallow wells to 150 deeper wells, saving over $1M while improving system performance. The same approach we bring to Pollard's Warner Field strategy.
Occupied campus renovation with complex site logistics and stakeholder communication. Auditorium construction using Matt Wilder's "dance floor" method. Full GMP at $95.3M (~$588/SF).
Two-phased new construction just 14 feet from the existing occupied school. Directly applicable to Pollard's challenge of building new on the same campus while maintaining full school operations.
Explore our team, approach, and commitment to Needham.