The following districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the November 5, 2025 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the “FAS”) Meeting:
District: City of Marlborough
School: Richer Elementary School
Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: The Vertex Companies, LLC
Designer: Lamoureux Pagano Associates | Architects, Inc.
The City of Marlborough (the “District”), the Owner’s Project Manager, and design team presented an overview of the options studied during the Feasibility Study and the District’s preferred solution to proceed into Schematic Design to replace the existing Raymond C. Richer Elementary School with a new facility serving students in kindergarten through grade 5, on the site of the existing school. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed the following: appreciation of the District's Educational program, including the Anti-Bullying curriculum; location of Special Education spaces and the DESE review process in the Schematic Design phase; scheduling considerations associated with the implementation of project-based learning for science and social studies to allow sufficient time for students to complete activities and put away materials; the importance of professional development and dedicated time for teacher planning and curriculum development; suggestion to include a spring-floor to accommodate the proposed flexible Physical Education spaces; appreciation for the efficient building footprint; envisioned character of the building; further development of the building plans, specifically the incorporation of the proposed ramp; proposed inclusion of skylights to allow natural light into interior spaces; proposed function/use of on-site water detention areas; considerations associated with an aggressive proposed construction schedule; and, leadership transitions and how the District will ensure continuity for the goals and practices described in the Educational Program.
District: Town of Swansea
School: Joseph Case Junior High School
Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: PMA Consultants, LLC
Designer: Finegold Alexander Architects
The Town of Swansea (the “District”), the Owner’s Project Manager, and design team presented an overview of the options studied during the Feasibility Study and the District’s preferred solution to proceed into Schematic Design to replace the existing Joseph Case Junior High School with a new facility serving grades 6-8, on the site of the existing Joseph Case High School. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed the following: the importance of professional development and dedicated time for teacher planning and curriculum development, particularly as it relates to science and social studies curricula; proposed science lab adjacencies and opportunity to share science prep spaces; location of Special Education spaces and the DESE review process following the Schematic Design submission; the importance of continued community outreach efforts for the Proposed Project; appreciation for the overall building design; site circulation and traffic flow; further development of the site plan and proposed retaining walls, especially with consideration to topography and grading; the opportunities and challenges associated with potential future expansion; discussion regarding MSBA's non-participation as it relates to auditoriums at the junior high school level; location of the guidance and administrative offices; consideration of solar mitigation for west-facing classrooms; building massing and architectural features; and, proposed use of the distributed Media spaces and opportunities to seek feedback from other districts that have incorporated similar design features.
