State Treasurer Steven Grossman, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), and Jack McCarthy, MSBA Executive Director, today joined with local officials to break ground on the new J. Henry Higgins Middle School in Peabody. The MSBA will fund a maximum grant of up to $43,678,555 toward the project.
“I am delighted to help break ground on this important and long-awaited project,” Treasurer Grossman said. “Thanks to the MSBA’s successful partnership with the district, students and staff of Higgins Middle School will benefit from a state-of-the-art learning and teaching environment for many years to come.”
The project consists of a three story, 224,000 square-foot building on the site of the current Higgins Middle School. The new building is organized into two wings separated by two courtyards. The design of the new school enhances natural lighting by means of a north-south solar orientation. Higgins Middle School will serve 1,340 students in grades 6 through 8.
“The new Higgins Middle School will provide local students with a beautiful new learning space,” Executive Director McCarthy said. “This will undoubtedly enhance and improve their ability to excel in the classroom.”
The MSBA partners with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally-appropriate, flexible and cost-effective public school facilities. Since its 2004 inception, the Authority has made over 1,400 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $10.8 billion in reimbursements for sustainable school construction projects.