Significant progress has been made over the last four weeks:
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An agreement has been reached on the acquisition of the three Seaver Street properties. A 2/3 majority approval from Town Meeting is required to fund the property acquisition; |
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The MSBA has accelerated its timetable and information on where the WHS project stands is imminent; |
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A discussion of the two options currently under review, one for the renovation/addition and one for all new construction, including preliminary cost information, will be held on Wednesday, October 24th at 7:30pm in the Great Hall, Wellesley Town Hall (see right column for details). |
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~ The Wellesley SBC
Agreement Reached
An agreement has been reached for the Town of Wellesley to acquire the properties at 53, 55 and 57 Seaver Street, adjacent to the High School site. The acquisition is the subject of Article 13 before the Special Town Meeting in November. A 2/3 majority approval from Town Meeting is required for the funding of the acquisition.
The acquisition of these properties has a major impact on the High School Project:
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Together, the three properties total just under one acre and increase usable land area by 17%. Currently, over 48% of the site is not usable due to set-backs, flood plain designations and other land use restrictions. |
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The increase in usable land enables design options which maximize efficiency and optimize facility layout. Current constraints limit building position, angle and orientation forcing compromise and/or increased costs. While the actual High School buildings may not ultimately be situated on the acquired property, the reconfigured site offers significantly more favorable design options. |
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The phasing of the project becomes less constrained as the need for phased demolition is minimized for both options (more new construction and/or additions can be completed and opened prior to demolition of existing structures). Reduced phasing minimizes the project duration and therefore overall cost. |
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Contractor access to and from the site during construction can be separate from school activities. |
A complete, detailed analysis of the impact of this acquisition on the High School design and process will be presented at the Special Town Meeting in November.
MSBA Timetable Accelerated
On November 2nd the MSBA will announce the first series of building projects that will proceed to the Feasibility Stage, according to their defined process.
This is two months sooner than expected and is welcome news to the SBC. More information on where the Wellesley High School project falls on the MSBA list will enable our planning process to move forward with more certainty.
If the project is one of those listed in the initial series announced on November 2nd, the next steps are clear: The MSBA will engage the SBC in the project process and a recommendation will ultimately be made to the Town. The project will continue on the traditional building project route, including Town Meeting approval, and ultimately a town-wide vote to fund the project.
If the WHS project is not one of those listed in the initial series, it is anticipated that there will be an indication from the MSBA on the future prospects. Based on this information, the SBC will revisit the project timetable, including interim capacity and maintenance needs.
Site Visit Learnings
On October 2nd, the SBC presented a comprehensive review of the site visits to local, recently constructed schools. Cynthia Westerman, a member of the SBC, presented a series of slides for each school facility, providing a visual basis of comparison and contrast to the WHS project.
The presentation will be re-broadcast on The Wellesley Channel on Saturday (10/13) at 12 am and 9 pm, Sunday (10/14) at 8 am, and Monday (10/15) at 2:30 pm.
Summary Findings:
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The schools visited presented a marked contrast on condition and features of the WHS building. They were clearly 21st century facilities in layout, materials and support of the educational program. Further, they shared numerous functional features which are not present in the current WHS facility. |
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Each school had comparable facilities and spaces, in both number and size, as those established by our Architectural Education Program, confirming the reasonableness of the program. For example: auditoriums sized for half of enrollment; gymnasiums with three courts; cafeterias that allow three seatings; appropriate support space for the theater, classroom and library; adequate and complete teacher and administration space. |
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No suburban school visited had site constraints as tight as those at the Wellesley High School site. In addition to the building footprint location, the phasing, construction staging, and parking alternatives will be complex issues to balance. |
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In most new construction, the major public spaces, such as the auditorium, gymnasium, and cafeteria tended to be clustered together. This enabled these spaces to be easily accessed from the exterior at any time while allowing the academic spaces to be secured during non-school hours. At each school this layout considerably increased community use of the building. |
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Environmental conditions were remarkable in every new or renovated space, including lighting, air quality, ventilation and temperature. This is in marked contrast to the current WHS facility and provides insight into the degree of improvement that can be attained. |
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In both renovations and new construction projects, the SBC saw designs that respectfully incorporated pieces of the town's heritage, culture, and architectural past. |
The site visits proved to be a valuable source of information and resource for the SBC and the findings will be frequently drawn upon as the project continues. |
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Preliminary Project Cost Evaluation & Discussion
The SBC and PBC will be reviewing preliminary cost information associated with the two fit test options under review.
These cost evaluations have been provided by the architects and are preliminary in nature, designed to enable the evaluation of the general costs associated with major decisions. Specific cost analyses will be generated by the Permanent Building Committee (PBC) in collaboration with the MSBA once detailed designs have been developed. Ultimately, final cost estimates will be prepared once schematic designs are complete.
Tom Goematt, a member of the SBC and CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction, will lead a discussion of the cost evaluations and review the variables which impact them.
The public is welcome to attend this meeting in the Great Hall in the Wellesley Town Hall on Wednesday, October 24th, 7:30 pm.
Reference Articles
Learning from Others, by Cynthia Westerman, Member of the SBC. A summary of the site visits to local high schools which have recently undergone renovation and/or new construction.
For Performance or Sport: The Space Matters, by Suzanne Littlefield, School Committee and SBC Member. A summary of the School Committee decisions regarding design of the Auditorium and Gymnasium spaces to enable the WPS Educational Program.
Enabling Core Values, by the SBC. The key principles (in order of priority) to serve as the foundation for decision-making in the High School Project.
The WHS Project and You, by Katherine L. Babson, Jr., Chair of the SBC. The impact of the High School Project on each and every resident and the commitment to two-way communication.
How Public Education has evolved in Wellesley, by Bella Wong, Superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools. How the many changes in teaching methods, state and federal mandates to education, and the importance of the extracurricular programs impact the current Educational Program.
WHS Project: The Pieces of the Puzzle, by Bella Wong, Superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools. A summary of the physical space needed to enable the WPS Educational Program. The resulting "Architectural Educational Program" details what is included and where it is located and as such, becomes the basis for the building design.
WHS Project: The Importance of Site, by Marlene Allen, Member of the School Committee and Chair of the Interboard Land Use Working Group. A summary of the study conducted by the Land Use Working Group to assess the constraints and opportunities afforded by the land parcels adjacent to the current High School site.
SBC Members
Katherine L. Babson, Jr. Selectmen Representative SBC Chairman
Steve Baker Citizen-Architect
John Donahue Facilities Administrator
Tom Goemaat Citizen-Contractor
Steve Gagosian PBC Representative
Rusty Kellogg Advisory Representative
Andrew Keough High School Principal
Hans Larsen Executive Director
Suzy Littlefield School Committee Representative
Kathy Mullaney PBC Projects Administrator
Cynthia Westerman Citizen-Project Manager
Bella Wong Superintendent of Schools |
