Lexington’s School Building Committee — a group of 15 residents, town and school staff, and designer and project manager representatives required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which collaborates with project managers and votes on project advancement — is considering six design concepts for the renovation or construction of Lexington High School.
That board is poised to settle on one of the concepts, officially referred to as “massing studies,” which were created by SMMA, the architecture firm managing the project, to submit to the MSBA on Nov. 12.
Granted its approval, SMMA will create schematic designs of the chosen concept. Those designs are more intricate than concepts, but aren’t detailed enough to build from and don’t include interior design elements such as light fixtures — those plans come later in the process.
In May, the SBC was considering 18 different concepts. They later narrowed down to six preferences — three new builds in the current fields and three renovate-in-place designs. And during an Oct. 15 meeting, the committee decided they preferred two, but will consider all six until Nov. 12.
One of the favored concepts involves constructing a new building next to the current one on the sports fields. The other involves tearing down the existing building in phases and constructing a new one in its footprint.
All six of the conceptual plans would be about 441,000 square feet to support 2,395 students. The designs are estimated to cost between $595 million and $764 million. To learn more about those predicted price tags, check out LexObserver’s cost-estimate deep-dive.
Here’s what to know about the SBC’s favorite concepts:
The SBC said it preferred a design referred to as “Bloom,” one of the three on-the-field concepts, in its Oct. 15 straw poll vote, which is an unofficial vote used to show popular opinion. Bloom would be four floors and would offer administration flexibility in where to place programs. It would offer increased space between the playground and the school compared to other on-field concepts, and ample space to build outdoor classrooms. It would also preserve the footprint of one baseball field that would alternatively be demolished in the other concepts. By moving into the property and away from shady trees, Bloom, and other on-field concepts, would be more accommodating for solar panels.
Part of Bloom’s construction, however, would occur on undeveloped land, which invites unknown variables that could affect the building process and price tag. Additionally, Bloom’s footprint is closest to the existing school’s location, so its 4 1/2 year construction would be more disruptive for students compared to other on-field concepts.
The SBC also preferred “Weave” during its Oct. 15 straw poll vote. Weave involves demolishing the current building and constructing a four-floor school in its place.
Inside Weave, the gym and theater would be on the second floor, and the media center, visual arts facilities and outdoor courtyard would be on the third. Its innovation labs would be near the dining commons and there would be space to build outdoor classrooms for teachers to use in warmer months..
Forty-eight temporary modular classrooms would be built on the property’s sports fields as a part of this concept to meet space demands during construction. Demolishing the current building, in phases, to build new in its place would make for the most disruptive experience for students who would attend LHS amid the concept’s 6 1/2 year construction.
While the SBC favors Bloom and Weave, committee members can still consider all six concepts, Kathleen Lenihan, SBC member, told LexObserver. Here is what to know about the four other massing studies:
“Branch” is the name of another on-the-field concept that imagines building a new four-story school.
Branch would flaunt four seamless floors and would be built in 4 1/2 years. It would have a gym on its first level, a two-floor common space, a media center and theater on its second level, an outdoor courtyard on its third and multi-floor innovation labs near its dining commons.
Like Bloom, Branch’s on-the-fields locations makes it optimally placed for solar panels. But that change in location means obstructing the flow of the campus’ sports fields and encroaching on the playground.
“Braid” is another four-story-construction-on-the-fields concept. It would have a two-floor common space, the gym and theater would be on floor two, the media center on three and innovation labs would be scattered with some near dining commons. The building would also feature many outdoor terraces, an enclosed courtyard and space for outdoor classrooms. Like Bloom and Branch, it would be poised to efficiently support solar panels.
Braid would not, however, include a courtyard within the building, its gym may not be close to the field house and it would encroach on the playground. It’s projected to take 4 1/2 years to build.
The concept nicknamed “Quad” envisions renovating the school’s current buildings to create an upgraded structure that’s between two and four stories. The first floor would include a media center, a gym near the field house, a theater, innovation labs, a courtyard and space to build outdoor classrooms. There would be visual art facilities on the third floor.
By renovating, builders would be limited in what they can achieve to what the current structure, which is made of many buildings of different heights and materials, allows. Adding new levels to the current structure is outside of that scope of possibility. Additionally, 32 temporary modular classrooms would be built on the sports fields to meet space demands amid construction.
The school also needs many upgrades, including replacing the leaking roof and making the entire building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, among other things.
It would take about six years to complete this multi-phased construction.
The design deemed “Figure Eight” also suggests renovating the current building to create a two-to-three-story school. It would feature a theater, two enclosed courtyards and a gym near the field house, all on its first floor. Its media center would be on the second floor and arts facilities on the third.
Figure Eight would utilize more of the existing building than Quad, which could be cost-saving. But, those greater renovations, specifically to the auditorium, kitchen, and locker rooms, among other areas, would be more time consuming. It’s estimated to take just over six years to complete its multi-phased construction.
This concept would likewise subject builders to the limits of the school’s eclectic structure, such as how its buildings’ varying heights make it unaccommodating to solar panels. Like with Quad, to meet the school’s space demands, this concept includes building 42 temporary modular classrooms where classes can be held during construction.
The SBC’s next hybrid meeting is on Oct. 28 from 12 pm to 1 pm. The schedule of the SBC’s upcoming meetings is displayed on the project’s website. Recordings of past meetings can be found on LexMedia’s website.
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