Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Massachusetts Day School Prepares for $11M Campus Addition Project

  • By Matt Jones
  • 05/07/24

The Wheeler School, an independent college preparatory school in Seekonk, Mass., recently announced a series of capital projects in development that are set to begin construction this spring. MassDevelopment & Berkshire Bank issued an $11-million bond that will go toward an eight-lane pool; an outdoor splash pad; a restroom, dressing room, and storage building; and a new two-story early learning center, according to a news release.

Construction is scheduled for completion during summer 2025. The project’s goal is to let the school increase its summer camp enrollment, host swim events, and remove the logistics of renting pool time and space for the school’s swim team.

“These additions to The Wheeler School’s academic and recreational facilities will be a win for students, families, and community members,” said Dan Rivera, MassDevelopment President and CEO. “MassDevelopment is pleased to partner with Berkshire Bank to deliver tax-exempt financing that is helping the school enhance learning experiences for years to come and add to its long-term competitiveness.”

The early learning center, “The Nest,” will offer nature-themed education and activities for preschoolers. In addition to the built facility, the amenities will include an exterior boardwalk and landscaping. The farm campus currently plays home to eight athletic fields, a field house, eight tennis courts, a track and field complex, a pool and pavilion, and adequate space for a biological and ecological field laboratory, the news release reports.

“The Town of Seekonk welcomes this significant investment by The Wheeler School, made possible through MassDevelopment's tax-exempt bond issuance,” said Seekonk Town Administrator Shawn E. Cadime. “These planned capital projects will not only enhance the school's facilities but also enrich our community by expanding recreational and educational opportunities. The addition of a new pool, nature-based early learning center, and other improvements will further solidify Seekonk's reputation as a thriving and supportive environment for education and growth. We are grateful to MassDevelopment for their unwavering commitment to economic development and their dedication to the growth of local communities. Their partnership in this endeavor highlights the positive impact that strategic investments can have on our town's future.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • California Middle School Breaks Ground on Major Renovation Project

    The Hillsborough City School District (HCSD) in Hillsborough, Calif., recently began construction on new multipurpose and administration facilities for Crocker Middle School, according to a news release.

  • Designing for Every Mind

    Learning environments have the power to shape not just what students know, but who they become. When a school is designed with genuine empathy—for the full range of ways students think, sense, and engage with the world—it becomes more than a building. It becomes a catalyst for growth, confidence, and belonging. That is the animating idea behind neurodiverse design, and it is one that is transforming how more architects and designers are thinking about school design.

  • Texas A&M Opens First Building at Fort Worth Campus, Breaks Ground on Research Facility

    The Texas A&M University System marked a major milestone in the development of its Fort Worth campus by opening its first completed academic building and breaking ground on a second facility designed to expand research and industry collaboration.

  • Cal Poly Humboldt Starts Construction on Healthcare Education Hub

    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, Calif., recently announced that work has begun on a renovation project that will turn the Stewart Building into a new Healthcare Education Hub, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Sundt Construction Inc. for construction services.