MSBA to consider design for new high school

Date: 3/1/2011

March 2, 2011

By Katelyn Gendron

Assistant Managing Editor

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts School Building Authority's (MSBA) Board of Directors will convene this month to decide whether or not to approve the proposed schematic design for the new high school.

The town's Planning and Construction Committee approved the design created by architects at Symmes Maini McKee Associates (SMMA) of Cambridge at its Feb. 14 meeting. The design tailors one of the MSBA's model schools to the needs of the West Springfield school district, including 257,000 square feet of space at a projected cost of $28.9 million.

"This model that we've selected has the most ability for customization," School Superintendent Dr. Russell Johnston explained. "It's built around clusters of classrooms that will really facilitate the collaboration of 21st century learning. Technology will also be well integrated into the facility."

Classrooms will be about 850 square feet with room for up to 27 students, he added. There will also be smart boards in the classrooms and mobile computer labs.

Lorraine Finnegan, project manager at SMMA, explained that the pod structure allows for decreased travel time between classes and also allows for more modern instructional spaces.

"In today's schools, you no longer have one teaching wall in the front of the classroom, every wall becomes the teaching wall," she said. "Students learn differently and not all learn well looking toward the front of the classroom. The five-sided classroom that wraps the corner on the pod gives you an additional wall surface to enhance this differentiated learning opportunity.

"Classrooms wrap around the perimeter of the pod and there is a large group instructional space in the middle, which can allow multiple classes to come together and work as teams," she continued.

Finnegan noted the academic wing is four stories with a administrative offices, an auditorium and cafeteria located on one story.

If project bids for construction come in lower than projected, a swimming pool and a synthetic track and playing surface at Clark Field could be added, according to Johnston.

If approved by the MSBA's Board of Directors, the West Springfield Town Council will vote on the project next month.