Braintree, MA Miller Dyer Spears (MDS) is currently working with the town to create a new middle school for 800 students in grades 5–8, replacing the existing South Middle School. The project is part of Braintree Public Schools’ plan to relieve overcrowding in the town’s elementary schools by integrating fifth grade into the middle schools. 

In support of the strategic plan, the primary goals for the project are to provide a building that is highly efficient, educationally appropriate, supportive of collaboration and programmatic connections, adaptable and flexible, and supportive of small learning communities within a larger school. 

South Middle School operates with an “academies” concept, with independent learning facilities and circulation patterns for grades 5–6 and 7–8. Each wing reinforces the small school concept and enables the consolidation of the community oriented, public spaces to provide easy, controlled access for the public. 

Multiple renovation, expansion and new construction options were analyzed, considering estimated costs, construction schedules, benefits to energy performance, and impact on occupants. The scope of the preferred solution, selected over a renovation, proposes a new construction option of a two-story building while retaining the 63-year-old existing school building for other town use. 

The project is targeting LEED Silver certification, seeking significant reductions to energy usage with building envelope enhancements, sun shades, and roof mounted photovoltaic panels. 

Construction is set to begin in summer 2021 with a spring 2023 completion.