Massachusetts Elementary School Enters Final Stage of Construction

Studio G Architects recently announced that a new elementary school in Groton, Mass., has reached the final stage of construction. Florence Roche Elementary School (FRES) will cover about 110,000 square feet and was designed to embody the district’s educational pedagogy of Universal Design for Learning. The facility will have the capacity for about 645 students between grades K–4 and is set for completion during summer 2024, according to a news release.

The Groton-Dunstable Regional School District is also partnering with Leftfield Project Management as the owner’s project manager and Gilbane as the Construction manager, the news release reports. Studio G brought its focus on sustainability to the project, creating modern and energy-efficient learning spaces, the news release reports.


Rendering courtesy of Studio G Architects

Reflecting UDL principles of design, the building is organized into grade-level learning neighborhoods each featuring a shared project area, pull-out spaces, and integrated special ed support. “This environment supports Universal Design for Learning with the spaces and features needed for the engagement, teaching representation, and learning expression for all students,” said Studio G Architects’ Marylee Mercy, Project Architect and Accredited Learning Environment Planner.

“At Studio G, we believe that great design begins with a deep understanding of our clients' needs and aspirations,” said Gail Sullivan, Managing Partner at Studio G Architects. “Through extensive collaboration with Groton-Dunstable Regional School District, teachers, students and the community, we have developed a design that embodies the district's vision for 21st-century learning.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • New Arizona Fine Arts School Reaches Construction Milestone

    Construction of the new Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater in Litchfield Park, Ariz., recently hit a significant milestone, according to a news release. The Agua Fria High School District held a beam-signing ceremony to celebrate the building’s topping out, or the placement of its last structural beam.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Colorado School District Breaks Ground on Unified PK–12 Campus

    The Haxtun School District No. Re-2J in Haxtun, Colo., recently announced that ground has been broken on a renovation/addition project that will unite its two schools, Haxtun Elementary and Haxtun Jr/Sr High School, according to a news release.

  • 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.