CTA Construction participated in a ground breaking ceremony for the new, 141,250 s/f new West Bridgewater Middle/Senior High School that serves students in grades 7 to 12. The new school will be built on athletic fields at the rear of the existing building. Once completed, the old school will be demolished to make room for a new synthetic football/soccer field with a 6-lane running track, a new baseball field and a field hockey overlay field.
One prominent feature of the design will be an internal "main street" that connects two main entrances - each dedicated for student drop off or parking which will simplify traffic flow and prevent traffic congestion at the beginning and end of the school day. Another characteristic of the new school is the common "shared" spaces such as the gymnasium, the cafeteria, the auditorium, music spaces and video lab that are organized along this internal "main street". Other classrooms, including SPED spaces are organized along a loop corridor that encloses an interior courtyard, and the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) classrooms are clustered around a STEM commons. This design fosters collaborative learning, and additional common areas can also be found on different floors to facilitate team teaching, less formal learning and student interaction for each of the grades.
The Media Center on the second floor features two adjacent computer rooms that support the new 21st century technology-based learning in the school. The academic loop around the courtyard can easily be closed off during special events in the gym, cafeteria, or auditorium for security and ease of supervision. The courtyard is accessible from the cafeteria for possible outdoor dining in good weather and provides alternative spaces for outdoor education. The School is designed according to the criteria set forth by the Collaborative High Performance Schools (MA-CHPS).
CTA Construction is once again collaborating with both project architect Flansburgh Architects, Inc. and owner's project manager, Strategic Building Solutions, LLC.
The Mass. School Building Authority (MSBA) partners with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally appropriate, flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective public school facilities. Since its inception, the Authority has made $8.9 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.
CTA Construction Co, Inc., is an award-winning construction management and general contracting firm with a history of excellence in building academic, residential, commercial, civic, retail, and hospitality facilities. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, CTA Construction's portfolio includes construction projects valued at over $800 million. As a leader in green building, the construction firm has helped numerous clients build sustainably and meet LEED and MA-CHPS standards.
The new West Bridgewater Middle-Senior High School Rendering courtesy of Flansburgh Architects.