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

  • UTampa Breaks Ground on STEM Academic Facility

    The University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., recently broke ground on one of its largest academic facilities ever, according to a news release. The Dickey Science Innovation Center will measure 153,000 square feet and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 Education Design Showcase Awards

    Spaces4Learning has opened submissions for the 2026 Education Design Showcase! The awards program launched in 1999 with the goal of celebrating innovative, practical solutions in the planning, design, and construction of K–12 and higher-education facilities. EDS recognizes new developments that help achieve optimal learning environments, as well as the architecture firms that brought the ideas to life.