The following Districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the September 26, 2018 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the "MSBA") Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the "FAS") Meeting:
Town of Marblehead
Elbridge Gerry Elementary School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner's Project Manager: Leftfield, LLC
Designer: Raymond Design Associates, Inc.
The Town of Marblehead (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 Elbridge Gerry Elementary School, L.H. Coffin Elementary School, and Malcolm L. Bell Elementary Schools with a new PK-3 elementary school facility on the existing Bell Elementary School site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) the importance of a continued look at the overall cost of the building; 2) consideration of reducing the window and skylight area; 3) importance of consistency in presentation of the design’s cost to the community; 4) solar orientation and glare; 5) relationship between the size of the bus/traffic loop to the number of busses needed; 6) noise level of air hand dryers in bathrooms; 7) benefits of the additional time spent refining the preferred option; 8) efficiency of the building design and dual entrances; 9) function of the hard play outdoor classroom; 10) access to the building for individuals with limited mobility; 11) use and function of the additional green space; 12) adjacency of the multi-purpose room and art room; 13) general orientation of the organic garden and its connection to the school; 14) integration of SPED classroom spaces throughout the design; 15) use of the Extended Learning Areas; 16) consideration of split-face block on building exterior and other potential means to reduce cost; 17) benefits of visiting other schools to aid in refining proposed solution; 18) scale of the gymnasium and elevation change; and; 19) the use of non-toxic materials in the art room.
MSBA staff is currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA's Board of Directors.
Pentucket Regional School District
Pentucket Regional High School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner's Project Manager: Vertex Companies, Inc.
Designer: Dore & Whittier Architects, Inc.
The Pentucket Regional School District (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 high school facility with a new Middle-High School on the existing site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) the complexity of designing a project with a 7-12 grade configuration; 2) progress of the conceptual design; 3) potential for efficiencies in a middle-high school; 4) site constraints; 5) other districts' experiences with similar proposed design features; 6) the construction phasing and the constraints that not allowing phasing places on the design; 7) District's adherence to community feedback; 8) complexity and cost of the project and considerations for reducing the cost of the project; 9) size, location, and logistics of student dining areas; 10) educational program and its relation to the proposed building layout; 11) concept of "learning on display"; 12) community outreach for the proposed project and the community's understanding of the educational program; 13) examination of 7-12 schools in other districts; 14) concept of the school's community and how departments relate; 15) location and use of "public realm" spaces; 16) proposed utilization of the academic spaces and variations to the MSBA guidelines; 17) use and maintenance of the proposed courtyard; 18) how students experience/travel around the building; 19) site circulation for bus and car drop-off; 20) storage for art rooms; 21) study options; and, 22) local vote schedule.
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 Weymouth
Maria Weston Chapman Middle School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner's Project Manager: Hill International, Inc.
Designer: HMFH Architects, Inc.
The Town of Weymouth (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 for an addition and renovation project to the Maria Weston Chapman Middle School. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) an appreciation of the educational program and the proposed academic neighborhoods; 2) the function and utilization of the proposed project areas and exploratory labs; 3) the proposed number of 6th grade science classrooms; 4) the impact of noise throughout the building as a result of the open concept cafeteria; 5) the location and function of the media center; 6) the use of the proposed outdoor learning areas; 7) the proposed class schedule for a team-teaching model; 8) the potential for creating a more efficient building envelope; 9) the location of renovated and new construction areas; 10) the long-term operating costs of the proposed building; and, 11) site topography and draining.
MSBA staff is currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA’s Board of Directors.
