New, $163M Middle School to Open in Massachusetts

A new middle school in Weymouth, Mass., is ready to welcome students for the new academic year. Maria Weston Chapman Middle School covers 252,000 square feet and will play home to more than 1,400 students sixth- through eighth-graders, according to a press release. Weymouth Public Schools partnered with BOND Building Construction, Inc. for construction and with HMFH Architects for the project’s design. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Aug. 6 to celebrate the grand opening, and the first day of school is Sept. 6.

“Our team is honored to have worked on such an innovative building and one so vital to the community of Weymouth,” said Frank Hayes, BOND Building Construction President. “Over many months of collaboration, planning and hard work, we’ve been able to deliver an institution that will help foster a meaningful learning environment and create the best possible experience for all students who walk through its doors.”

Weymouth Chapman Middle School
Rendering Courtesy of HMFH Architects

Chapman Middle School contains three academic wings as well as lab spaces, maker spaces, and a central space known as the “Town Square.” The Square will function as the school’s dining hall and a general circulation space, and it also features a professional performance theater space with a capacity of 840.

“Hearing the pride and the way that people spoke about Chapman, we took as part of our mission to design the new Chapman with that level of love, care and enthusiasm so that great learning can happen here—and so that, one day, it can serve as a symbol of this community,” said Matt LaRue, HMFH Project Designer.

The school’s website reports that the previous facility for Chapman Middle School was facing mounting repairs and deferred maintenance issues. The new facility features amenities like 45 general classrooms; 21 science classrooms; 13 test prep rooms; a 10,000-square-foot gymnasium; four lab spaces for STEM, PBL, computer and technology programs; a 4,000-square-foot media center; outdoor play and learning spaces; and a Therapeutic Learning Center (TLC).

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Countway Library at Harvard Medical School

    From Shadows to Sanctuary: The Transformation of Light at Countway Library

    The renovation of Countway Library at Harvard Medical School demonstrates how biophilic design and advanced lighting strategies transformed a formerly dark, insular space into a vibrant, welcoming hub that supports wellness, learning, and community engagement.

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

Digital Edition