The following Districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the August 8, 2018 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the "MSBA") Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the "FAS") Meeting:
Town of Arlington
Arlington High School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner's Project Manager: Skanska USA Building, Inc.
Designer: HMFH Architects, Inc.
The Town of Arlington (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 Arlington High School on the existing site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) an appreciation of the educational program; 2) the incorporation of social studies, science, and math class wings to further develop integrated learning; 3) the scheme for assigning students into academic houses; 4) teacher professional development; 5) the incorporation of English language learner students in world language classes; 5) design and building functionality; 6) parking locations and green space; 7) sheltered drop off/pick up area; 8) acoustical challenges of the performing arts space; 9) the location of Special Education spaces; 10) inclusion of the LABBB Collaborative and Pre-K; 11) the character and location of the building; 12) the functionality of the library and its relationship to maker spaces; and, 13) community outreach and support.
MSBA staff is currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA’s Board of Directors.
City of Holyoke
H.B. Lawrence School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner's Project Manager: Pinck & Co., Inc.
Designer: Jones Whitsett Architects, Inc.
The City of Holyoke (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 H.B. Lawrence K-3 school facility with a new middle school serving grades 6-8 on the Chestnut Street site (adjacent to the existing site) and the existing Peck School with a new middle school serving grades 6-8 on the existing Peck School site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) an appreciation for the challenges the District is striving to overcome in its Turnaround Plan and the unique advantages as well as the challenges of funding and managing the proposed solution of two schools; 2) the educational program and its focus on an equitable middle school experience for all students; 3) community outreach and support for the proposed reconfiguration from K-8 schools to a middle school model; 4) the need for additional development of the site plans, in particular how the buildings connect to the site; 5) efficiencies of a single design adapted to each site; 6) securing ownership, control, and exclusive use of each site; 7) the flexibility of academic clusters and possibility of mixed grade-level clusters; 8) existing dual language programs; 9) potential future expansion; 10) on-going implementation of the Newcomer Program; 11) the media center’s location, staffing and curating of materials; 12) teacher certifications; 13) team teaching and launch of middle school STEM Academy; 14) the current use of the Holyoke High School and Dean Technical High School facilities; 15) project schedule; 16) energy rebates; 17) the capacity of the consultants to complete the work required for a schematic design submittal that includes two separate buildings on different sites; and, 18) the financial readiness for the preferred solution.
MSBA staff is currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA's Board of Directors.
