Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Massachusetts District Begins Work on $66.7M Middle School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 01/31/22

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.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.