The following districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the November 13, 2024 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the “FAS”) Meeting:
Town of Wilmington
Wildwood Elementary School
Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Symmes Maini & McKee Associates (SMMA), Inc.
Designer: Dore + Whittier Architects, Inc.
The Town of Wilmington (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 consolidate the Wildwood Elementary School, Woburn Street Elementary School, and North Intermediate School, and construct a new facility serving 755 students in grades K-5, plus pre-Kindergarten, on the site of the existing North Intermediate School. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed the following: the importance of professional development for staff in preparation for the transition to a new facility; appreciation for the goals expressed in the District’s Educational Program; benefits of providing a minimum of two sinks in each general classroom to facilitate project-based learning and STE exploration; distribution of special education spaces and DESE review process; further development of the building massing and envisioned character as the design progresses; further refinement of outdoor spaces; consideration of adjacencies of spaces and intention of design; location of the proposed instrumental music room; proposed location of electrical and storage closets within the academic corridors; consideration of approach to main entrance access; estimated project cost; potential schedule impacts associated with the project delivery method, regulatory and stretch code requirements, as well as enabling packages and permitting associated with a potential geothermal system; and, communication and collaboration with Town utilities to confirm capacity for a potential all electric building.
City of Leominster
Fall Brook Elementary School
Phase: Schematic Design
Owner’s Project Manager: Leftfield, LLC.
Designer: Miller Dyer Spears
The City of Leominster (the “District”), the Owner’s Project Manager, and design team presented an update on the District’s preferred solution to replace the existing Fall Brook Elementary School on the existing site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed the following: opportunities to increase visibility and supervision in the proposed project areas; confirmation of the inclusion of two sinks in general classrooms; appreciation for the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces; emergency vehicle access; and, appreciation for the building massing and vernacular approach.
Town of Southborough
Margaret A. Neary Elementary School
Phase: Schematic Design
Owner’s Project Manager: Skanska USA Building, Inc.
Designer: Arrowstreet, Inc.
The Town of Southborough (the “District”), the Owner’s Project Manager, and design team presented an update on the District’s preferred solution to consolidate the student population of the existing Margaret A. Neary Elementary and Albert S. Woodword Memorial Schools and construct a new facility serving grades 2-5 on the site of the existing Margaret A. Neary Elementary School. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed the following: appreciation for the improved creation of green space and program adjacencies, all within a compact building envelope; site constraints and resiliency considerations associated with flood plains and storm water management; the proposed project schedule; distribution of special education spaces and the DESE review process; and, clarification on staffing and licensure for the library/media center in the new building.
