Southbridge Public Schools Facilities Master Plan
Southbridge Public Schools faced a number of unique circumstances that led to the development of a Facilities Master Plan for their three elementary schools and alternative school. When the plan commenced in 2022, the district had been under state receivership for several years and was undergoing transformative curriculum and cultural changes. However, the facilities were aging and ill-equipped to meet the needs of modern teaching and learning.
Partnering with Context Architecture, we approached the Master Plan in three phases:
Part I: Facilities Conditions and Needs Assessment
Part II: Space & Programming Needs Assessment
Part III: District Long-Range Facilities Master Plan
Engaging the Community and Defining Educational Needs
Leading Phase II, we worked closely with Context Architecture and the district to conduct Visioning and Educational Program Analysis for each individual school. We conducted walkthroughs, collaborative workshops, and surveys to form a complete picture of the vision and goals for teaching and learning in Southbridge and where existing facilities are falling short.
With a significant number of multi-lingual immigrants in the community, accessible communication was a top engagement priority. We spent two days tabling outside Christmas concert performances at each school, offering information and feedback opportunities to have “meet the architect” conversations in Spanish and English.
We also dove deep into enrollment analysis and program space summary comparisons to Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) standards. Using all of the information gathered, we developed a clear understanding of where Southbridge’s school facilities are meeting and falling short of their needs to support students—and where opportunities for improvement might exist.
Through this process, we identified that the existing elementary school model often separates specialized programs and resources, meaning students don’t always have access to all the support they need and are sometimes split up from siblings.
Identifying Possible Paths Forward
A desire to explore all possible solutions and understand the unbiased pros and cons of each emerged as a top priority for Phase III: District Long-Range Facility Master Plan.
We explored five reconfiguration options to bring buildings up to standard, including renovation, renovation-addition, and new construction. Utilizing information from Phases I and II, each design option illustrated a possible path forward, including implications for grade-level cohorts, scheduling, and opinions of probable cost.
Together with Context Architecture, we presented all options to a joint meeting of the School Board and City Council and were commended for the breadth and clarity of our content. The presentation enabled robust discussion and informed decision-making about the future of Southbridge’s schools.
Client
Southbridge Public Schools
Services
Stakeholder Engagement
Visioning
Master Planning
Physical & Program Capacity Study
Educational Program Assessment
Space Planning & Assessment
Location
Southbridge, MA