Burlington High School Demolition, Remediation, and New Construction

Fuss & O’Neill provided civil and environmental services to support Burlington High School’s vision of a new $206 million state-of-the-art high school. The project included the abatement and remediation of asbestos, PCBs, and lead from seven on-site buildings, the demolition of the buildings, and management of 12,000 tons of contaminated soils.

From environmental investigation through abatement, demolition, remedial planning, and site turnover, our team helped prepare the property for its next chapter: a new school. Our work supported timely, efficient site readiness and included the first IRule-compliant testing for PCBs in indoor air and building materials.

We guided the project through complex regulatory requirements with technical support, clear recommendations, and practical expertise—helping ensure compliance with TSCA regulations and guidance. We also prepared an IRule-compliant Site Investigation Report documenting all bulk and substrate materials sampled.

Fuss & O’Neill directed an investigation of PCBs in indoor air, soil, and building materials, then designed and oversaw pilot studies to evaluate concentrations and identify the most reliable sampling approach. The studies were intended to achieve reporting limits of 10 ng/m³ and establish a method for correlating congener and Aroclor data.

Construction schedules prevented completion of the pilot study. To support next steps, our team helped prepare an abatement and demolition cost estimate for the existing PCB-containing materials.

To prepare the site for its next chapter, our team developed an environmental Site Investigation Report, Corrective Action Plan, and Soil Management Plan to guide cleanup ahead of construction of the new school.

Our design advanced the site’s redevelopment with stormwater management, erosion and sediment controls, site grading and drainage, and utility coordination and relocation. Permitting and engineering also addressed the closure of multiple underground storage tanks, former hydraulic lifts, and elevators, along with a truck wash station designed to collect and treat decontamination water.

Fuss & O’Neill developed construction bid documents and provided bidding support, bringing civil and MEP design together to guide demolition and the transition of site utilities and resources.

After more than five years of demolition and construction, the new 205,000-square-foot, net-zero high school opened for the 2026–2027 school year. Students had been learning in a renovated former Macy’s building during construction; now they have a contamination-free school filled with natural light and open spaces designed for learning.