Rhode Island, October 7, 2025
News Summary
Three major Rhode Island construction stories advanced: Roger Williams University and Shawmut Design added four new Shawmut Scholars, offering full-tuition scholarships, paid internships and hands-on construction experience; crews demolishing McCoy Stadium uncovered two historic time capsules while preparing the site for a $326 million Pawtucket High School project; and a high-profile Newport property purchase reunites the Seacliff house with nearby estates on Bellevue Avenue. Officials say the discoveries and program expansions will shape local construction workforce development, preserve community history and influence future development along the Newport shoreline.
Three Rhode Island construction developments move forward
Major updates in Rhode Island construction include a university-industry scholarship pipeline, the uncovering of two historic time capsules during stadium demolition, and a high-profile real estate purchase that reunites an old Newport estate. The items below summarize the most immediate developments and then provide more detail.
Top developments
- Roger Williams University and Shawmut Design have added a new class to a scholarship-and-internship pipeline for construction-related students.
- Shawmut crews uncovered two time capsules while demolishing McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket to prepare the site for a $326-million high school project.
- Larry Ellison purchased the Seacliff home at 562 Bellevue Ave. in Newport, expanding a property group around the Astors’ Beechwood mansion.
Roger Williams University and the Shawmut Scholars program
Roger Williams University (RWU) says four incoming students have been selected for its Shawmut Scholars program. The Shawmut Scholars program offers full-tuition scholarships. The program guarantees paid internships. The program includes paid internships in project management situations and at construction sites. The program includes mentorship from industry professionals. The program is for students majoring in construction management. The program is also for architecture or business majors who commit to a construction management minor.
The program was designed to ensure students graduate with degrees plus four years of practical, hands-on construction experience. The program was designed to ensure students graduate with professional networks that typically take years to develop in the field. The Shawmut Scholars program was launched in 2021. In addition to classroom instruction, students rotate through active construction sites. Students shadow project managers as part of the program. Students learn safety protocols firsthand through the program. Students work on budgets and schedules as part of their practical experience.
Ioannis N. Miaoulis is president of RWU. Two alumni from the previous scholar group graduated from RWU in May and two alumni from the previous scholar group have entered careers with Shawmut’s Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, offices. Another alumnus from the previous scholar group relocated to pursue other opportunities. Michelle LaFleur is chief human resources officer at Shawmut Design.
The incoming round of Shawmut Scholars include four named students: Kat Almeida, a construction management major from Rhode Island; Emma Jackson, a construction management major from Connecticut; Andie Moreira, an architecture major and construction management minor from New Hampshire; and Ary Ponce, an architecture major and construction management minor from New York.
McCoy Stadium demolition and time capsules tied to Pawtucket High School project
Crews demolishing the former minor league baseball stadium in Rhode Island on May 12 unearthed an 85-year-old time capsule. The 85-year-old time capsule was enclosed in the original cornerstone of the former McCoy Stadium. The demolition was to prepare the site for a $326-million Pawtucket High School project. Shawmut Design and Construction is described as a $2 billion national construction management firm. Shawmut is leading the construction of the 375,000 square-foot new Pawtucket High School.
The Pawtucket High School project represents the single largest school project in Rhode Island’s history. Once completed, the new campus will serve approximately 2,100 high school students. The new campus is expected to deliver cutting-edge academic facilities and community-focused spaces designed to meet the evolving needs of 21st-century learners.
Days after the first capsule discovery, crews found a second time capsule believed to have been buried between home plate and the pitcher’s mound during a historic game played on June 23, 1981. The two time capsules are from two different decades. Both time capsules will be unveiled on June 23, the 44th anniversary of the conclusion of the longest pro baseball game played at McCoy Stadium. The longest-ever professional baseball game lasted 33 innings, eight hours and 25 minutes.
The found time capsule is being held in a secure location by the Pawtucket Police Department. The May 12 discovery was described as an exciting moment by Shawmut’s head of preconstruction for the New England region, Chris Maury. Maury is head of preconstruction for the New England region and head of Rhode Island operations at Shawmut Design and Construction. Maury said crews deployed ground-penetrating radar technology to help locate the second time capsule. Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien said the city is excited to unveil the contents of this time capsule, and hopefully another rumored McCoy time capsule, at a ceremony honoring the stadium’s history on June 23, 2025.
Newport property purchase expands an historic estate
Oracle founder and multibillionaire Larry Ellison has apparently purchased the Seacliff home at 562 Bellevue Ave. for $11 million. The purchase gives Ellison ownership of all four properties between Rosecliff and Marble House, two Preservation Society of Newport County mansions. Ellison’s central property in Newport is the Astors’ Beechwood mansion at 580 Bellevue Ave. Ellison spent more than $100 million to renovate Beechwood for a planned Beechwood Art Museum.
The Seacliff deed was signed by seller trustee Michael Madden on Jan. 31. A limited-liability company named Carbonview Limited, LLC, incorporated in Delaware, is the name on the Seacliff deed. The buyer address listed on the Seacliff deed is 101 Ygnacio Valley Drive, Walnut Creek, California. Larry Ellison has used the 101 Ygnacio Valley Drive address before. Realtors and city officials said they are confident the Seacliff buyer is Ellison. Seacliff has a total of 10 rooms, five of them bedrooms. Seacliff has an assessed total value of $6.81 million, according to the city assessor’s office.
It is not known what Ellison plans to do with Seacliff, which includes a brick and masonry guest house on the Cliff Walk. All four properties now purchased by Ellison extend from Bellevue Avenue east to the Cliff Walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many students were selected for the Shawmut Scholars program?
A: Roger Williams University (RWU) says four incoming students have been selected for its Shawmut Scholars program.
Q: What financial support does the Shawmut Scholars program provide?
A: The Shawmut Scholars program offers full-tuition scholarships.
Q: Are internships part of the Shawmut Scholars program?
A: The program guarantees paid internships.
Q: What kind of hands-on experience does the Shawmut Scholars program provide?
A: The program includes paid internships in project management situations and at construction sites.
Q: What time capsule discovery occurred during the McCoy Stadium demolition?
A: Crews demolishing the former minor league baseball stadium in Rhode Island on May 12 unearthed an 85-year-old time capsule.
Q: When will the McCoy Stadium time capsules be unveiled?
A: Both time capsules will be unveiled on June 23, the 44th anniversary of the conclusion of the longest pro baseball game played at McCoy Stadium.
Q: What property did Larry Ellison reportedly purchase?
A: Oracle founder and multibillionaire Larry Ellison has apparently purchased the Seacliff home at 562 Bellevue Ave. for $11 million.
Key features at a glance
| Topic | Key features |
|---|---|
| Shawmut Scholars program | Full-tuition scholarships; guaranteed paid internships; mentorship from industry professionals; rotates through active construction sites; designed to provide four years of practical experience. |
| McCoy Stadium / Pawtucket High School | Demolition uncovered two time capsules (one found May 12 and another from 1981); site being prepared for a $326-million, 375,000 square-foot Pawtucket High School serving approximately 2,100 students. |
| Newport Seacliff purchase | Seacliff at 562 Bellevue Ave. purchased for $11 million; purchase reunites four properties between Rosecliff and Marble House; Seacliff has 10 rooms, five bedrooms, assessed at $6.81 million. |
For updates on planned ceremonies, project timelines, or scholarship cohort announcements, local officials and project teams have indicated additional details will be released in the near term.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- CDRecycler: Roger Williams University Shawmut scholarships (2025)
- Wikipedia: Roger Williams University
- NEREJ: Shawmut breaks ground on $326M Pawtucket High School
- Google Search: Pawtucket High School Shawmut 326 million
- ENR: Crews unearth 85-year-old time capsule during McCoy Stadium demolition
- Google Scholar: McCoy Stadium time capsule 85-year-old
- NEREJ: Shawmut crew finds 85-year-old time capsule during McCoy Stadium demolition
- Encyclopedia Britannica: McCoy Stadium Pawtucket
- Providence Journal: Larry Ellison buys Newport Seacliff home (2019)
- Google News: Larry Ellison Newport Seacliff Bellevue Ave
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