The following district presented on the progress of their proposed project at the November 8, 2023 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the “FAS”) Meeting:
Town of Belchertown
Jabish Brook Middle School
Current Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Skanska USA Building Inc.
Designer: Lamoureux Pagano Associates | Architects, Inc.
The Town of Belchertown (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 Jabish Brook Middle School with a new facility serving grades 6-8 on the existing school site. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed: appreciation of the District’s educational program; appreciation of the logical and compact building design; distribution of Special Education spaces and DESE submittal process; Science Technology and Engineering spaces and their conformance to MSBA guidelines; site circulation and user experience of entry to the building; approach to the proposed drop-off zone; building massing, site development and opportunities to further define outdoor learning spaces; opportunities to connect the educational program to outdoor spaces; and, proposed layout of the main lobby.
MSBA staff is currently working with the District to reach a mutually agreeable solution to recommend to the MSBA’s Board of Directors.