The following districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the October 7, 2020 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the “FAS”) Meeting:
City of Fitchburg
Crocker Elementary School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Colliers Project Leaders NE, LLC
Designer: saam architecture
The City of Fitchburg (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 Crocker Elementary School with a new facility. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) appreciation for the educational program; 2) class sizes and the number of classrooms; 3) the proposed grade reconfiguration; 4) opportunities to enhance flexibility and configuration of the proposed cafetorium; 5) flexibility of the 5th grade classrooms; 6) appreciation of the connections to the outdoors and opportunities to expand engagement with outdoor learning; 7) flexibility in potential building expansion; 8) appreciation for the distribution of the special education spaces; 9) site constraints and the proposed building layout and orientation; and, 10) extended learning spaces.
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 Boston
Josiah Quincy Upper School
Current Phase: Schematic Design
Owner’s Project Manager: Skanska USA Building, Inc.
Designer: HMFH Architects, Inc.
The City of Boston (the “District”), the Owner’s Project Manager, and design team presented a summary review of the progress of the design of the Josiah Quincy Upper School project. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) appreciation for the site plan and design progress made since the Preferred Schematic, particularly with regard to the building exterior, massing and neighborhood connections; 2) building capacity; 3) variations from MSBA space guidelines; 4) community outreach; 5) code requirements and evacuation plans; and, 5) the location and proposed use of art, music and performance spaces.
The FAS requested additional information regarding: 1) spaces below MSBA guidelines; 2) meeting minutes/notes/recordings referenced during the District’s presentation; 3) written evacuation plans in the event of an emergency, and 4) the transportation, location, and secure storage of musical instruments and equipment from dedicated music/band/orchestra classrooms to the auditorium for performances.
MSBA staff is currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA’s Board of Directors.