Salem, MA — Gilbane Building Company joined state and university leaders on Wednesday to celebrate the groundbreaking of Salem State University’s SSU BOLD initiative—a transformational campus modernization and unification project that will reshape the university’s infrastructure, sustainability efforts, and academic environment.
The milestone event drew a host of dignitaries, including Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Salem State University President John Keenan, and Adam Baacke, Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), alongside other elected officials and community leaders.
SSU BOLD (Building Opportunities for Lasting Development) is the realization of a long-term campus master plan, first introduced in 2019. The initiative includes the complete renovation of the long-vacant Horace Mann building and an expansion of Meier Hall to house new science lab facilities. Once finished in fall 2027, the project will relocate programs from South Campus to North Campus—enabling the state’s planned sale of the former while consolidating university operations into a more unified, efficient footprint.
The upgraded facilities will support critical academic programs, including nursing, occupational therapy, biology, chemistry, and geological sciences. The plans also incorporate flexible classroom designs and additional student-focused spaces.
“Our project team is fully committed to fulfilling the mission of these transformative projects that are reshaping the landscape by addressing long-term infrastructure needs and creating a more connected community. On this project, Salem State University is leading the way on sustainability for college campuses across the Commonwealth while ushering in the next generation of future innovators and leaders,” said Justin MacEachern, Vice President and leader of Gilbane Building Company’s Massachusetts and Northern New England office.
In line with sustainability goals, Gilbane will also lead efforts to decarbonize the North Campus through the installation of a geothermal wellfield beneath the faculty parking area behind Meier Hall. This innovative system, consisting of approximately 100 wells, will provide heating and cooling to both the new Meier Hall addition and the Horace Mann building, while also supporting improvements to the Berry Library. The infrastructure will lay the groundwork for a second phase that will eventually connect four additional North Campus buildings to the system.
President John Keenan emphasized the broader vision behind the modernization efforts:
“Addressing significant deferred maintenance, creating state-of-the-art lab facilities, making the best use of vacant spaces, and establishing a compact, efficient campus to optimize constructive collaboration and sustainability. These guiding principles have led us to SSU Bold and our continued commitment to a sustainable campus. These initiatives are not just about infrastructure, they’re about transforming lives,” he said.
All components of the SSU BOLD initiative are scheduled for completion by summer 2027, marking a new chapter in Salem State University’s mission to serve future generations of students with modern, sustainable, and collaborative learning environments.
