The following districts presented on the progress of their proposed projects at the January 28, 2026 Massachusetts School Building Authority (the “MSBA”) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (the “FAS”) Meeting:
District: Town of Needham
School: Pollard Middle School
Phase: Feasibility Study
Owner’s Project Manager: Town of Needham
Designer: HMFH Architects, Inc.
The Town of Needham (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 Pollard Middle School with a new facility serving grades 6-8 on the site of the existing school. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed the following: appreciation for the Educational Program and the updates made since the original submission; distribution of special education spaces and the DESE review process following Schematic Design; appreciation for the proposed Heritage Spanish Program; flooding and stormwater management on the site; community outreach and support for the project among non-school affiliated voters; considerations surrounding the distribution of restrooms to ensure accessibility; appreciation for the proposed site plan and the transition between parking areas, landscape, and the building; alignment of site drop off and entrance designs with existing student transportation methods; interior circulation and distribution of 6th grade students in comparison to 7th and 8th grade students; appreciation and emphasis of maintaining the proposed solar canopy over third floor outdoor roof space; future discussion about site constraints including soil management, phasing, and construction access through the neighborhood once a construction manager at risk is on board; solar battery storage considerations; noise mitigation from nearby MBTA tracks; consideration of altering placement of art and music spaces with the media center to facilitate programmatic opportunities for art classes; differentiation of the two primary entrances; ongoing efforts to align the estimated project budget with the District’s not-to-exceed budget during Schematic Design; and, potential impacts to the scope and construction schedule as a result of proposed geothermal well-fields requiring access under existing railroad tracks.
District: Martha’s Vineyard Regional Schol District
School: Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School
Phase: Schematic Design
Owner’s Project Manager: CHA Consulting, Inc.
Designer: Tappé Architects Inc.
The Martha’s Vineyard Regional School District (the “District”), the Owner’s Project Manager, and design team presented an update on the District’s preferred solution for an addition and renovation project at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed the following: development and refinement of the design since approval of the District’s Preferred Schematic, including addition of the proposed practice gym, relocation of the Culinary program, and the mechanical system change from ground source to air source heat pumps; importance of continued emphasis on professional development in preparation for the transition to the updated facility; suggestion to engage with local businesses for potential faculty collaboration and funding opportunities; status of DESE’s review of the District’s Special Education submission; cost considerations; and, suggestion for early communication with the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office to confirm anticipated MBE/WBE/VBE/SDVOBE participation goals.
District: City of Salem
School: Salem High School
Phase: Schematic Design
Owner’s Project Manager: Accenture, PLC
Designer: Perkins & Will Architects, Inc.
The City of Salem (the “District”), the Owner’s Project Manager, and design team presented an update on the District’s preferred solution to replace the existing Salem High School with a new facility serving students in grades 9-12, on the site of the existing school. The FAS, MSBA staff, and the District discussed the following: appreciation of the proposed design and refinements made since approval of the District’s Preferred Schematic; clarification of program delivery for the LBLD, TIDES and STEP programs; appreciation of the relationship/layout of the CTE programs and academic spaces; clarification of the proposed entry to the auditorium for community use; relocation and proposed use of the black box theater as a multipurpose performance space; proximity of the Auto, Marine and Welding programs as well as the main mechanical room to the stage and associated acoustical considerations for sound mitigation; public access and entry into the Automotive Technology program; estimated project costs, and anticipated ineligible costs, associated with variations to the MSBA space guidelines; current and anticipated energy costs, net-zero goals and participation in Mass Save; community outreach; and, consideration of the Project Schedule entering into Design Development.
