Bullard-Havens Technical High School, part of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS), held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, May 12, 2023, to mark the start of construction for the new state-of-the-art technical high school that will serve the Bridgeport community and surrounding towns for generations to come.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by local and state officials, representatives from the architecture and construction companies, CTECS administration, local business and industry, faculty and students. In addition, Bullard and Havens family members, the school’s namesake, were in attendance.
“We are the future generation that will bring innovation and change,” said Maritza Farias Silva, a grade 9 automotive technology student. “Thanks to Bullard-Havens, we are being turned into the skilled professionals of tomorrow.”
The new school building will serve approximately 900 students in grades 9 through 12. The primary focus of the school’s educational program is Career and Technical Education across the following thirteen trades: Automotive Technology, Carpentry, Criminal Justice & Protective Services, Culinary Arts, Electrical, Graphic Design, Hairdressing & Cosmetology, Health Technology, Information Technology, Masonry, Plumbing & Heating, Precision Machining and Architecture.
“Education is truly the bridge to the future,” said Senator Herron Keyon Gaston. “It is the economic engine to how we move forward. We have got so far away from the trades in our institutions and schools, and I think we need to get back to that.”
“We believe that the trades are really the heartbeat of the future for the state of Connecticut and the City of Bridgeport,” said CTECS Executive Director Dr. Ellen Solek.
“This school now and this new school…provides tremendous opportunity,” said Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim. “This is the opportunity to come out and be who you want to be and live your life’s dreams.”
The new 215,000 square foot school will be built on the existing 24-acre site and will include a field house, new athletic fields, a gymnasium to accommodate the entire student body, and a fitness center, among other state-of-the-art features.
“This school houses 13 specialty [trade] shops…that speaks volumes to the dedication to education that the state of Connecticut and Bullard-Havens has,” said Bruce Kellogg, Principal at JCJ Architecture. “One of the most important things as we design buildings is sensitivity to net zero and reduced energy use.”
“Bullard-Havens Technical High School will be the most energy-efficient technical high school in our state system, and quite possibly the most energy-efficient technical high school in the region. The modern building systems are designed to operate without the use of any fossil fuels,” said Connecticut Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Michelle Gilman. “Our DAS team is proud to support this initiative on behalf of CTECS and Bullard-Havens staff, and to continue our collective commitment to a sustainable future.”
Energy efficient features include a highly insulated building envelope, a geothermal well field with groundwater source heat pumps, energy recovery ventilation, and solar installation completed through the CT Green Bank.
Construction on the new facility is expected to be completed by May 2027.