The following Districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the September 20, 2017 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the "MSBA") Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the "FAS") Meeting:
Town of Natick
John F. Kennedy Middle School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner's Project Manager: Compass Project Management, Inc.
Designer: Ai3 Architects, LLC
The Town of Natick (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 replace the existing middle school facility with a new John F. Kennedy Middle School on the existing site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) the District’s Educational Program; 2) auditorium/performing art spaces; 3) the importance of flexible and adaptable project labs that will have the ability to change with technology; 4) the number of student common spaces/cafeterias; 5) appreciation of the building's orientation and organization; 6) opportunities to further refine the building envelope to create a more efficient plan and potentially create cost savings; 7) team collaboration spaces and circulation; 8) phasing during construction; and, 9) future expansion.
The FAS requested an updated Educational Program which describes the types of instruction that will occur within the proposed educational spaces as well as the flexibility of such spaces, and additional information that further describes the District’s rationale for providing a full auditorium versus providing a smaller performing art space (ex. black box theatre), and the cost impacts of each option as well as additional detail on how the building could be expanded if needed in the future.
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 Easthampton
Maple Elementary School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Colliers International
Designer: Caolo & Bieniek Associates, Inc.
The Town of Easthampton (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 replace the existing Maple, Center, and Pepin Elementary Schools and the existing White Brooke Middle School with a new grade PK-8 facility at the existing White Brook Middle School site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) the organization of the proposed building layout and how it will function; 2) the location of core spaces such as the cafeterias, the kitchen and the auditorium; 3) the SOAR Program and the sizes of the SPED programs, and the delivery of adaptive PE and the proposed OT/PT room; 4) the location of the teacher planning spaces; 5) site circulation, parking and access into the building; 6) incorporation of sinks in all classrooms; 7) providing sufficient time for experiential science; 8) opportunities for multi-lingual instruction in the general education classrooms; 9) the media center and associated staffing; 10) seating capacity within the auditorium, and the potential to include a variety of performance spaces rather than added auditorium capacity; 11) the number of teaching stations within the gymnasium; 12) the balance of a small community feel within a large building; 13) expansion potential of the facility; and, 14) the benefits of taking additional time to consider and refine the organization of the proposed facility.
MSBA staff is currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA’s Board of Directors.