Whitinsville Christian School fine arts center, Whitinsville, Mass.

Whitinsville Christian School gymnasium, Whitinsville, Mass.

Whitinsville, MA JM Coull (JMC) was selected for a $12.6 million design-build contract to construct a new 33,000 s/f fine arts center and gymnasium at Whitinsville Christian School (WCS). The project also calls for a 10,000 s/f second-story addition over the existing school and an enclosed bridge that will connect to the new space. JMC is partnering with design firm Dixon Salo Architects as well as acoustical consultant Acentech Studio A and theater design specialist Nextstage Design. Team engineers include Johnson Structural Engineering, Neal Mitchell Associates, and Andrews Surveying and Engineering.

The new facility will include a performing arts theater with a stage, seating, curtain system, lighting, and audiovisual systems, and the gym will feature multiple basketball courts, scoreboards, bleachers, locker rooms, athletic equipment, a training room, and a multipurpose room. A modern lobby containing a trophy display case will join the two spaces. A patio, ramp, handicap parking, and a new road and sidewalks are also included in the scope of work. The existing playground at the school will be relocated to make way for the new structure.

The enclosed bridge will serve as a conduit between the theater and gymnasium, tying into the new second-story addition above the existing pre-school. The addition and fit-out will provide WCS with the flexibility to expand its growth and curriculum needs as programming and design development are underway.

“This project is an incredible opportunity for us,” said JMC project executive Dan Cobb. “We’re thrilled to be working with the WCS building committee, Dixon Salo, and consultants and engineers to help the school realize its vision for the new performing arts center and gym. There has been a lot of front-end work to set the project up for success, and we wouldn’t have been able to get this point without the dedication of the entire project team. This is going to be a state-of-the art facility that will enrich the lives of students and local community for years to come.”