The following Districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the October 29, 2014 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the “FAS”) Meeting:
Town of Brookline
Edward Devotion Elementary School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Employee, Town of Brookline
Designer: HMFH Architects, Inc.
The District, the Owner’s Project Manager, and design team presented its overview of the options studied during the Feasibility Study and the District’s preferred solution to replace the majority of the existing Edward Devotion School with a large addition that will be attached to the visible portion of the 1913 building, which portion will be renovated. The FAS and staff members discussed: 1) the ineligible multipurpose room and parking garage; 2) the 880 net square footage (“nsf”) of academic classrooms and associated project areas; 3) MSBA cost funding limitations regarding site and building costs; 4) ineligible costs that arise out of the relocation of students; 5) adjacencies of programmed spaces relative to the grouping of grade cohorts; 6) spaces for Pre-K students; 7) internal circulation and the number of elevators in the building; 8) history of the site and sub-surface conditions; 9) the community’s interest in retaining the 1913 building; 10) planned use of the proposed media center; and, 11) the wireless capabilities of the proposed building. Staff and members of the FAS raised concerns regarding: 1) the increase in the size of the large gymnasium from 6,000 to 7,000 nsf, which exceeds the MSBA guidelines; 2) the location of art classrooms relative to the quality of available natural light; 3) the location of music classrooms relative to the proposed multipurpose space; 4) student relocations to accommodate construction; and, 5) ineligible costs that will increase the District’s share of the Total Project Costs.
The FAS requested additional information regarding: 1) the District’s selection of “Option 1” as its preferred solution over “Options 2, 3, and 3A,” and the additional benefits that the District believes will be realized by its choice of “Option 1;” 2) discrepancies between some of the adjacencies in the educational program versus the conceptual layout of the proposed solution; and, 3) an estimate of the total projected cost for completing “Option 1” and the District’s estimate of its share of that cost. Staff also requested updated conceptual layouts that address adjacency issues discussed regarding: performance space; music, art, and science; locations for book storage; small group rooms (coaching); and spaces available for use by the school’s after-school program.
MSBA staff is currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA’s Board of Directors.
Town of Woburn
Wyman Elementary School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Municipal Building Consultants, Inc.
Designer: DiNisco Design Partnership, Ltd.
The District, the Owner’s Project Manager, and design team presented its overview of the options studied during the Feasibility Study and the District’s preferred solution to replace the existing Wyman Elementary School and the existing Daniel P. Hurld Elementary School with a new K-5 facility on an alternative site. The FAS and staff members discussed: 1) travel distance from handicapped parking to the facility; 2) distance from the drop off area to the main entrance; 3) the importance of continued development of the design to resolve existing groundwater/water-table concerns; 4) the District’s scheduling of enrichment programs; 5) the potential for natural lighting of the proposed art classroom; 5) potential benefits of reclassifying the health/science classroom as a project room; and, 6) consideration for sink installations in classrooms to better accommodate classroom science experimentation.
MSBA staff is currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA’s Board of Directors.