Boston, MA Shawmut Design and Construction joined the town of Braintree on June 15 for the groundbreaking of its new 185,000 s/f, $83 million East Middle School. The school, set to open in fall of 2020, is designed to accommodate 1,180 students ranging from fifth to eighth grade.

In partnership with the town of Braintree School Building Authority, Hill International, and architect Miller Dyer Spears, the Shawmut team has developed a detailed plan for the approximately 108,000s/f renovation and 77,000 s/f of new construction. The project includes a prominent new entry, three-story classroom block, new gym, and a new Media Commons infill at the existing courtyard. The plan reuses the existing school, while improving the overall layout and addressing existing building concerns. The expansion and site enhancements will minimize impact on the existing playfields and maximize available parking capacity in the best location. Additional amenities will include separate Academy Commons for grades 5-6 and 7-8 to provide more intimate environments for focused group activities. Classrooms will offer flexible environments, supportive of a variety of teaching methods and student collaboration.

“Our team is excited to work on such a monumental project for the town of Braintree,” said Kevin Sullivan, vice president at Shawmut. “Our unique approach will not only improve the school’s energy usage, but will allow classes to continue uninterrupted as we create a new facility that will significantly enhance students’ learning experience.”

The Shawmut team will work closely with the town to target LEED Silver certification by seeking significant reductions to energy usage with improvements to the building envelope, and sun shades. The new facility will also feature roof-mounted photovoltaic panels that will supply 10% of the building’s power. The additions are scheduled to be built during the first year of the project, while the present building will be renovated during the second year.

Shawmut’s work on the new Braintree East Middle School represents the latest in the firm’s extensive academic work in Massachusetts, with current projects at Billerica’s Memorial High School and Arlington’s Gibbs Middle School.