Finegold Alexander cuts ribbon on 17,000 s/f AMSA academic building

Marlborough, MA Finegold Alexander Architects has completed the Advanced Math and Science Academy (AMSA) Charter School’s new academic building. The firm was selected in 2021 to design the new classroom and science lab building with expanded learning opportunities and classroom technology. A ceremony to mark the ribbon cutting milestone took place on January 23. The event featured remarks from Dr. Lisa Mobley, executive director, Mike Nawrocki, principal, and Maura Navin Webster, board of trustees chair; tours of the new spaces; and refreshments. The ceremony was attended by Massachusetts state representative Meghan Kilcoyne, mayor Christian Dumaisas as well as two city councilors, Mark Vital and Mark Oram. 

Originally opened in 2005 to bring a new quality educational choice to the four core towns of Marlborough, Hudson, Maynard and Clinton, AMSA is a public charter school that now serves 966 students in grades 6-12 from over 30 communities in the greater Boston area. The school currently owns and occupies a three-building campus located at 165, 199 and 201 Forest St. in a former office park. Finegold Alexander worked with AMSA to align the school’s campus facilities to support their college-oriented educational program. The project entailed the design of the new 17,000 s/f academic building. The project also included the redesign of the campus site circulation to improve the pick-up and drop-off system for students and their families, while providing a defined separation between vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

“We are thrilled to see the completion of the new academic building. It has been a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with the leadership at AMSA to expand the school’s academic footprint.” said Regan Shields Ives, principal and K-12 studio leader at Finegold Alexander.

“Finegold Alexander sought to support the school’s mission of integrity, excellence, and community through innovative design, and we are excited for the students to be able to use their new learning environment,” said Christopher Lane, principal and project manager at Finegold Alexander.

Finegold Alexander has a well-established reputation for creating innovative educational environments, specializing in both the renovation of existing structures and the design of new buildings. Their extensive portfolio of K-12 projects throughout New England features notable schools such as the Eliot Innovation School in Boston, the Gibbs School in Arlington, and the new Gladstone Elementary School in Cranston, Rhode Island. AMSA chose Finegold Alexander for their deep expertise and insight into the school’s unique needs, as it continues to excel academically, consistently ranked in the top 10 public high schools in Massachusetts.

“Finegold Alexander has done an incredible job transforming our campus into a modern, 21st-century education environment that truly fosters student learning and creativity,” said Dr. Lisa C. Mobley, AMSA executive director. “These new spaces will enable us to serve our students more effectively, making a real and lasting impact on their academic experience.”