The following districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the January 20, 2021 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the “FAS”) Meeting:
Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical School District
Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical High School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: PMA Consultants, LLC
Designer: HMFH Architects, Inc.
The Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical School District (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 Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical High School with a new facility on the existing site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) appreciation for the educational program; 2) the connection between the educational program and proposed organization of academic spaces, including spatial relation of the Media Center to the academic classrooms, and Science Labs to the vocational spaces and academic classrooms; 3) use and maintenance of the proposed courtyard; 4) further refinement of floor plans, Media Center/ hub of the building; 5) the adjacency of vocational spaces and academic classrooms; 6) use and maintenance of the proposed project areas; 7) media Center staffing; 8) the building’s clear organization strategy; 9) further refinement of the western facing outdoor roof area and garden to mitigate impact from direct sun exposure; 10) the area in front of the auditorium; 11) appreciation for healthy landscape zone around the building; and, 12) further development of the building’s massing and form.
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 Stoneham
Stoneham High School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Symmes, Maini & McKee Associates, Inc.
Designer: Perkins + Will
The Town of Stoneham (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 Stoneham High School with a new facility on the existing site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) the location of the gymnasium and auditorium, and their relation to the academic neighborhoods; 2) utilization rate of the gymnasium; 3) transparency of the gymnasium through the use of glass; 4) appreciation of the Educational Program; 5) review of the distribution of Special Education spaces; 6) staffing related to the Library/ Media Center; 7) appreciation of separated parking locations and green space; 8) building organization and circulation, with focus on long corridors and tighter corners; 9) program differences between Physical Education and Athletics offerings; 10) inclusion of the town-wide Pre-K program, focusing on transition from Pre-K to K; and; 11) the location of the art room in relation to the auditorium.
The FAS requested additional information regarding: 1) the calculated daily utilization rate of the gymnasium and a schedule for the gymnasium’s use; 2) clarification of the Universal Design approach for each entry/exit; 3) a comparison of the floor plans from the Preferred Schematic and the January 20, 2021 FAS presentation.
MSBA staff are currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA’s Board of Directors.
Town of Medfield
Dale Street Elementary School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Leftfield, LLC
Designer: Arrowstreet, Inc.
The Town of Medfield (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 construct a new elementary school facility on the Wheelock Elementary School site to replace the existing Dale Street Elementary School. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: 1) the academic organization of the proposed building; 2) site circulation; 3) appreciation of the Educational Program; 4) the inclusion and location of outdoor learning spaces; 5) appreciation of the Main Street concept; and; 6) appreciation of a campus approach.
MSBA staff are currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA’s Board of Directors.
