The following districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the September 11, 2024 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the “FAS”) Meeting:
Town of Reading
J. Warren Killam Elementary School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Colliers Project Leaders NE, LLC
Designer: Lavallee Brensinger Architects
The Town of Reading (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 proceed into Schematic Design to replace the existing J. Warren Killam Elementary School with a new facility serving 455 students in grades K-5 as well as Pre-K. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: appreciation of the Educational Program and opportunities to use it as a comprehensive resource for future reference; distribution of special education spaces and DESE review process; suggestion to consider a moveable partition between two classrooms in each grade level neighborhood for additional flexibility; appreciation for the building layout and compact footprint; separation of the Pre-K RISE Program and opportunities to develop landscaping in the associated outdoor play area; accessibility and opportunities for input from a local commission on disabilities, if available; traffic study considerations and site circulation; proposed parking spaces and locations as well as opportunities to reduce parking and increase green space if possible; site constraints, building massing, and orientation; the view of the building upon approach and consideration of materials to further define the main entry; and project schedule considerations, including permitting requirements, review of geothermal wells, potential use of early packages, duration of construction and demolition as well as logistics associated with a Fall move-in date.
City of Leominster
Fall Brook Elementary School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Leftfield, LLC
Designer: Miller Dyer Spears Inc.
The City of Leominster (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 proceed into Schematic Design to replace the existing Fall Brook Elementary School with a new facility serving 610 students in grades K-5. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: appreciation of the ideas and goals expressed in the Educational Program; the importance of professional development for staff in preparation for the transition to a new facility; distribution of special education spaces and DESE review process; continued operation of the existing facility during construction; site constraints and associated design considerations for building geometry and orientation; further development of the building massing; appreciation for the separation of the academic areas from public spaces; further refinement of the design and clarification of the envisioned character of the building; intentional development of indoor/outdoor connections as the design progresses; emergency access to the building; resiliency considerations; and potential schedule impacts associated with regulatory and stretch code requirements as well as enabling packages and permitting.
