Massachusetts District Begins Work on $66.7M Middle School
Braintree Public Schools in Braintree, Mass., recently announced that construction has begun on a new school facility for the district. The structure will serve as a new home for the existing South Middle School, and it will also be the town’s first new school construction in more than 50 years. The new school measures in at about 146,000 square feet. It’s estimated to cost about $66.7 million and is scheduled for completion in time for the start of the 2023–24 academic year.
Local news reports that the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed plans to vote on a temporary tax increase to help pay for the project. After a special election in fall 2020, Braintree voters approved a $63-million debt exclusion, and the state is expected to pay about $31 million.
"This is a very exciting time for Braintree," said Mayor Charles Kokoros. "It has been a very long road, and I couldn't be happier to be a part of such a momentous occasion."
The new facility for South Middle School will consist of three parts, according to local news reports. The first part will include a dining room and auditorium, media commons, two innovation labs and a band room. The second part will include two two-story sections containing classroom organized by grade. The third part will be the athletic wing and feature two gymnasiums, one including bleachers and one without. The school’s design also includes an outdoor courtyard with three seating areas.
The school will serve about 800 students in grades 5–8. Braintree Public Schools is partnering with MDS Architects on design and Bacon Construction as the construction manager.
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Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at mjones@1105media.com.