Flansburgh Architects breaks ground on the Sutton Middle/High School renovation/addition project

The town of Sutton held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Sutton Middle/High School renovation and addition project on July 14th. In attendance were: Katherine Craven, executive director of the Mass. School Building Authority (MSBA); state senator Richard Moore; state representatives Paul Frost and Ryan Fattman; Sutton superintendent of schools Ted Friend; former superintendent Dr. Cecilia DiBella; board of selectman chair Kevin Geraghty; town administrator James Smith; school building committee chair Wendy Mead; owner's project manager Jon Winikur, Strategic Building Solutions; and principal Duncan McClelland of Flansburgh Architects, the architect-of-record for this project. After studying various options for bringing the middle/high school up to 21st century educational standards in 2006, Flansburgh's approved design calls for a 125,000 s/f addition and renovates the athletics and science facilities in the most recently constructed portion of the existing high school (1989). The older structures will be demolished to make way for the addition to bring the school up to 175,000 s/f. This approach was the most cost-effective of the options studied and satisfies the requirements for site sustainability, water conservation, reduced energy use, wise use of materials, and a high level of indoor environmental quality, qualifying for an additional 2% reimbursement from the MSBA for achieving a MA-CHPS certification. The new 125,000 s/f addition will include a 500-seat auditorium, a new middle school gymnasium, classrooms, science labs, and a 280-seat cafeteria. Construction is phased so that the school remains fully functional with appropriate safety for students and staff during the process. Construction is expected to be fully completed in time for the start of the school year in September 2014. Duncan McClelland, AIA, LEED AP, principal-in-charge for Sutton Middle/High School said, "This project is going to totally change the Sutton Middle/High School and bring it into the 21st century as a state-of-the-art educational facility. This effort would not have been possible without the hard work of the Sutton building committee and other town members along with support from the MSBA. Construction is expected to take three years, but when completed, the school will be a unique educational environment that is designed to inspire the students who pass through it for many years to come." Flansburgh Archts. is a global architectural design and planning firm headquartered in Boston. The firm designs a variety of academic facilities and has completed more than 275 educational projects for primary, secondary, and post-secondary school clients both in the U.S. and overseas. Flansburgh has earned more than 100 design awards. Shown (from left) are: Kevin Geraghty, chair - board of selectmen; James Smith, town administrator; Katherine Craven, executive director, MSBA; Richard Moore, state senator; Ryan Fattman, state representative; Paul Frost, state representative; Wendy Mead, chair - school building committee; Dr. Cecilia DiBella, former school superintendent; Ted Friend, superintendent of schools.