The following districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the August 3, 2022 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the “FAS”) Meeting
Town of Maynard
Green Meadow Elementary School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Colliers Project Leaders USA NE, LLC
Designer: Mount Vernon Group Architects, Inc.
The Town of Maynard (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 Green Meadow Elementary School with a new facility serving pre-kindergarten through grade 3 on the existing school site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: District’s Educational Program and proposed scheduling; the importance of plans for professional development and teacher collaboration; the District’s use and operation of the STEAM classroom and Innovation Hub; consideration to expand on the push-in model for multi-lingual students; acoustics of the building and vertical connections between floors; clarity of architectural plans to support concepts; site circulation and secure student entrances; further development of the proposed site plan; and, community use of the building afterhours.
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 Amherst
Fort River Elementary School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Anser Advisory
Designer: DiNisco Design, Inc.
The Town of Amherst (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 student population of the existing Fort River Elementary School and the Wildwood Elementary School and construct a new facility serving grades K-5 on the site of the existing Fort River Elementary School. As a component of this proposed consolidation, the District has voted and approved to relocate the District’s 6th grade student population to the Amherst-Pelham Middle School. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: appreciation for the compact design and small building footprint; preparation for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (“DESE”) special education submission in Schematic Design; requirement that self-contained special education classrooms and Intensive Learning Center (“ILC”) classrooms spaces that meet the minimum classroom sizes in the proposed project spaces to conform with DESE and MSBA requirements; location of the ILC rooms on the second and third floors; appreciation for the educational program and the explanation regarding the use of the kiln and details to ensure safety; project cost and potential cost drivers; number of proposed parking spaces; site constraints; community outreach; sustainability considerations as they relate to the Town’s commitment to Net Zero Energy; opportunities for further development of the site plan and indoor/outdoor connections; location of the main entrance and additional access points to the building; and, the civic expression of the building and its view upon approach.
MSBA staff are currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA’s Board of Directors.
