The long-anticipated demolition and reconstruction of Charlotte Amalie High School on St. Thomas has officially entered the preconstruction phase with the execution of the Design/Build contract awarded to Consigli Benton, the V.I. Office of Disaster Recovery announced Tuesday. This marks the beginning of the $334 million project to transform the decades-old high school into a state-of-the-art educational facility.

According to the release, on October 9 representatives from the V.I. Dept. of Education, ODR, Consigli Benton, and various stakeholders convened to establish the project's timeline, deliverables, and strategic approach. This meeting set the foundation for the next steps in the design, demolition, and reconstruction of the high school, located in Sugar Estate on St. Thomas.

ODR Director Adrienne Williams-Octalien spoke about the importance of the project, noting the many stages that led to this moment. “The demolition and reconstruction of the Charlotte Amalie High School is the first of several slated for the island and holds significant historical, cultural, and community importance. Kicking off this critical project is a key milestone to building back better and fortifying a state-of-the-art educational facility for generations to come,” she said.

According to the proposal from Consigli Benton, the project will take approximately 1,248 days—around five years—to complete. The plan covers the finalization of the design, demolition of the existing structure, and full reconstruction. The project will be managed through coordination between the Super PMO, VIDE, and the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance, with input from the local community and other stakeholders.

Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington expressed her enthusiasm for the project. "This marks an exciting time for the Virgin Islands Department of Education as we move forward with the execution of the Design/Build contract for the demolition and reconstruction of Charlotte Amalie High School," she said. "I am thrilled to see this long-anticipated project coming to life, as it will provide our children with modern, state-of-the-art learning environments that foster academic growth and development. Our students and staff deserve nothing less, and this is a significant step in creating conducive educational spaces.”

According to the release, to further streamline the project and ensure full community engagement, the VIDE, in collaboration with Consigli Benton, will host a two-day launch event on October 22 and 23. This event will involve local contractors, the community, and other key stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the project's completion.