Excel High School will close on June 30 for a full renovation of the South Boston High School building. The Boston School Committee voted in 2025 to close the school to renovate its facilities and to bring a new school community to the historic building by Fall 2028.

At a June 22 community meeting, BPS Deputy Chief of Capital Planning Sarah King said the project will prioritize communication of plans and that BPS and the Public Facilities Department (PDS) would work closely to preserve and safeguard the building’s memorials and other historical artifacts during any renovation.

“And then partner with the future school community to help ensure that the significance and the history of those assets in the building are understood and honored,” she said. “I’ll also note that our team conducted an initial review of all the artifacts in the building to make sure that we’ve got the process for tracking them, maintaining them, and safeguarding them in this process.”

King added that she has been in dialogue with Veterans Services Commissioner Robert Santiago, who she said is excited to support the renovation.

Through the summer, PDS will conduct a feasibility study to determine the extent of required repairs, small-scale renovations, and legally required upgrades to bring the building’s systems up to code. So far, the school has been found to have deficient accessibility features, inefficient electric, plumbing, and fire-safety systems, and requiring new telecommunication and insulation infrastructure. Pending budget availability, the renovation may include cosmetic upgrades, including a fresh coat of paint, new flooring, and refreshed gymnasiums and cafeterias.

“We’re going to propose solutions that respect the historic building fabric, which means we’re not going to be changing the memorials. We’re going to be doing limited renovations as much as possible,” said PDS Assistant Director for Design Evan Brinkman.

PDS will also explore what Career Technical Education programs can fit into the school and within BPS’s broader vocational programming.

Different programs require different specifications for the spaces they inhabit. “So we may be changing the configuration of the basement a little, but it’s not a really historically significant space,” Brinkman said.

Local firm Annum Architects, formerly Ann Beha Architects, will be brought in to support the project. Brinkman said they were chosen specifically for their aptitude with renovating historic buildings, having been responsible for the Dorchester’s Engine 17 Firehouse on Meetinghouse Hill.

Community members in attendance were still frustrated with the project, expressing that the name should be changed back to South Boston High School, it should prioritize admitting students from within the neighborhood first and foremost, and that there should be fewer buses going up G St.

BPS offers a Home-Based assignment structure for grades K-8. High school students and their families may choose from citywide options for their school assignment, which is ultimately chosen by lottery. While most high school students in Boston enjoy free, year-round public transit through the M7 program, students in Individualized Education Programs or with specific transportation needs may still use conventional school buses under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

During redevelopment, the structure will continue to be maintained by BPS, and parking will be permitted in the 95 G St. lot between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.