With Sharpies in hand and excitement in their eyes, over 300 students at Burrowes Elementary School signed their names on the final steel beam to be installed in the new $26 million building currently under construction at 1001 E. Orange St.
The beam, adorned with the signatures and heartfelt messages from the students, was hoisted into place earlier today, marking the completion of the structural framework for the state-of-the-art facility. The new Burrowes Elementary School, set to open for the 2025-26 school year, represents a significant investment in the future of education in the School District of Lancaster.
For John Eck, Jr., Vice President of General Construction Services at Fidevia, the event was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the construction team. “It’s really great,” he shared. “It signifies that the guys are working hard every day, trying to reach weekly goals with the end result being delivering the project on time so that the kids have a new home to go to at the start of the next school year.”
Eck was especially moved by the students’ involvement in the process. “It’s a pretty awesome thing,” he said. “It’s one of the better parts of the job that we do—having kids witness what the team is doing on a daily basis and encouraging them to consider construction as a vocation someday.”
Principal Michele Duroni spoke with emotion about what the day meant for the Burrowes community. “I want our students to know that this new school is for them. There were over 300 student signatures on that beam,” she said. “They are the reason we come together, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they not only have the right to an exceptional education but also the opportunity to learn in environments that are innovative, safe, and designed to inspire their growth.”
For Duroni, the installation of the beam was more than a construction milestone. “Watching the beam being placed today represented so much more than being one step closer to a new building. The feeling was indescribable.”
The new Burrowes Elementary School will feature cutting-edge classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, and modern facilities designed to support student achievement. As the old building prepares to make way for progress, the memories and legacy of Burrowes will live on in the hearts of students and staff who leave their mark—literally—on the foundation of the future.
The School District of Lancaster celebrates this pivotal moment and thanks the community, construction teams, and everyone involved in making this vision a reality. For the students, educators, staff, and partners who signed their names, the new Burrowes Elementary stands as a promise, reminding them that their futures are as strong and enduring as the steel beam they helped send into the sky.
You can view a live stream of construction by clicking here. For more photos visit our Facebook.
