The proposed new Squantum School will replace the existing with a new school at same site.
The new school will be built on the existing location of the school at the West end of the site between Mayflower, Huckins and the paper street known as Winslow Road.
Students will remain at the current location at the East end in a reconfigured 1971 wing of the existing school as well as temporary modular classrooms that will be placed behind.
The new school will preserve the 1919 facade of the original school that will be incorporated into the new school.
None of the new school will be built on the parkland other than an underground geothermal well field that will not affect the use of the parkland above. There will be temporary impacts to the parkland during the construction period where the land will be used for temporary parking, material storage and staging area for the construction work. After the work is complete the parkland will be restored to its previous condition.
Two large existing pin oak trees on Huckins will be preserved as part of the new school project.
The new school will have 21st-century learning environments, with flexible teaching spaces in daylight-filled classrooms and shared spaces.
The school’s proposed site plan will provide outdoor areas for learning and play.
The MSBA provides grant funding through a competitive process for public school districts to improve and maintain their teaching spaces.
The Squantum School project was accepted into the MSBA capital building program in 2021. In May of 2022, the City of Quincy and the MSBA entered into a Feasibility Study Agreement (FSA).
The MSBA grant reimbursement program for school buildings will partially reimburse the City of Quincy for the design and construction costs of the new school. The City and the MSBA are working together in partnership to develop a project scope and budget that will be finalized at the end of the Schematic Design phase in late Summer 2024. The Quincy City Council will vote in November / December 2024 to fund the project and then the City and MSBA will enter into a Project Funding Agreement (PFA) which will set the project budget and project the expected reimbursement amount from the MSBA for the project.
Reimbursement rates for MSBA approved, eligible school construction and renovation projects are calculated pursuant to a formula that is established in Massachusetts General Law. The project specific reimbursement rate will take into account the Community Income, Wealth and Poverty factors for the City. The MSBA reimbursement rate for the project is 66.24%.
The School Building Committee evaluated more than a dozen building schemes ranging from fully new construction to combinations of renovation/addition schemes. Regular meetings were held to critique and evolve these schemes until one scheme will determined to be the best fit for the school.
The project schematic design phase began in January 2024. In this phase new school conceptual plans were transformed into three dimensions and exterior styles, materials and massing were further developed.
At the outset, educational priorities, educational programming and visioning for the new school guided the conceptual schemes. The latest educational programming for the school has determined the need for a 79,000 square-foot building, significantly larger than the existing 45,000 square-foot school.
Aging HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems and roofs are all in need of major replacement or repair. Windows, doors, bathrooms and more require upgrades.
The buildings are poorly insulated. The heating systems are old, inefficient and rely on fossil fuels. Parts of the buildings lack air-conditioning and others are poorly heated.
The existing wiring and classrooms do not support 21st-century learning priorities.
The existing building is 45,000 sqft, the educational programming for the new building has determined the need for an 79,000 sqft school to meet the educational needs to the Squantum School students for a 21st-century learning environment.
The existing building was built in 1919, it was added onto in 1950 and then again in 1971. The configuration of the school in a long linear string of buildings that are not at the same elevation do not make it conducive for a modern learning environment.
Up-to-date technology for 21st-century learning.
Abundant natural light in classrooms and learning spaces. Research shows that daylight can increase test scores by 20 percent.
Flexible spaces for individual learning and group learning to support collaboration and problem-solving.
Design and classroom layout will provide enhanced support for the modern education program.
Dedicated special education and academic classrooms where students can receive focused attention/instruction within close proximity to their grade-level peers.
Outdoor learning and play spaces
Entrances and exits will be secure
Fully accessible. The site and building will meet ADA codes, including bathrooms and interior spaces, entrances, walkways, and parking drop-off areas.
The building will be highly insulated, with zones to control temperature and air circulation, and systems designed for high energy efficiency.
The HVAC system will also provide enhanced air quality and thermal comfort.
Heating, Air, and Ventilation System (HVAC): The proposed school will be all-electric, using ground source heat pumps – often called geothermal systems – for heating and cooling the building.
The design will use solar PV system to offset the expected annual energy use – reducing school utility costs to zero or near zero with incentives.
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