BBCS atrium
Roxbury, MA – HMFH Architects, Inc. of Cambridge recently received an Outstanding Project Award for excellence in educational facility design for Bridge Boston Charter School (BBCS) in Roxbury, that serves the city’s most disadvantaged students.
The $24.7 million renovation and expansion project was overseen by owner’s project manager Pinck & Co., Inc.
BBCS acquired the former 36,000sf Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center building on Warren Street in 2015 and converted it to a K-8 school. The newly renovated school was completed for the start of school in 2017.
The project scope consisted of the building renovation, a 3,000sf addition, and a stand-alone gym. The renovation also included 20 classrooms, a science lab, art room, music room, multipurpose athletic and performance space, library, kitchen and cafeteria, family resource center, and outdoor play and green spaces. A two-story atrium, the heart of the school, was renovated into a library/multipurpose area, connecting multiple spaces and floors.
Additionally, expansive music and art classrooms were located on the upper floors, providing ample natural light and views of the Boston skyline. The architects transformed the ground-floor medical suites into classrooms by gutting the walls, creating larger rooms, and adding skylights and large exterior windows for cross-daylighting opportunities.
Jennifer Pinck, president and founder of Pinck & Co., credited the close collaboration among school officials, HMFH, and contractor W.T. Rich Company for the project’s success. “Working closely with the school, our team captured the essence of what they needed to create the best environment for their students, families, and community, and delivered a challenging project on time and on budget.”
The award was given by Learning by Design magazine.
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The school’s priority was to ensure the design would reflect their mission of “whole child learning,” which integrates academics with full-service programming, social emotional learning, music, visual arts, and health and wellness for their growing pre-K-8 school.
“The design team did a nice job of re-purposing this facility to make it a charter school. Strong daylighting, and a good range of rooms for student use. Good contextual design. Great story of adaptive re-use of a former health center,” according to Learning by Design.
Melissa Greene HMFH project architect, said, “We saw from the beginning how the existing atrium space was a standout asset for the building and a real opportunity to bring the students and school community together.”
“It was a privilege to create a permanent home for BBCS, where nearly 30% of the students have experienced homelessness,” said HMFH project architect James Liebman “It’s been gratifying to see the students and their families engaging in activities and taking pride in their new school,” added Liebman.
