Educational visioning workshops included representatives from the school administration, faculty, staff, parents and students.
Leicester, MA – Finegold Alexander Architects has been selected by the town of Leicester and Massachusetts School Building Authority as the architects for feasibility and schematic design phases of the Leicester Middle School project.
Originally constructed in 1961 as the Leicester High School, the building is a single-story structure of approximately 74,000sf. The location of the existing building is part of a 43-acre campus that is shared with the Leicester Primary School and the Leicester High School.
The building was converted to the middle school in 1994, upon the opening of the new high school. The town is seeking to address the educational program limitations and the facility deficits of the current middle school, but also to evaluate the project in context of the overall school district needs and vision.
The feasibility study kicked off with an existing building and site conditions assessment in parallel with a series of educational visioning workshops with the district, representatives from the school administration, faculty, staff, parents and students.
“The visioning session helped to identify and understand the aspirations of the school and the community. It also uncovered key community issues and concerns related to the project,” said Regan Shields Ives, principal, Finegold Alexander Architects. “The feasibility study will evaluate options for renovations, expansion, or creation of a new building, as well as potential grade configurations ranging from a 6-8, 5-8 or pK-8 school.”
At the conclusion of the study, a preferred schematic design option will be presented to the MSBA for a vote to move forward into the schematic design phase.
“We are thrilled to be working with Finegold Alexander to help build the new middle school,” said Marilyn Tenzca, superintendent, Leicester Public Schools. “They understand our community and we are excited about the process which will help us educate students for the future.”
