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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2764 Report of Committee on Proposed New High School Building, September 21, 1901Official REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PROPOSED New High School Building SEPTEMBER, 1901. Offered by Robert P. Clapp, for the Committee at meeting, Oct. 9, 1901 - [blank page] HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING LEXINGTON MASS COOPER & BAILEY ARCHITECTS EQUITABLE BLOC[?] BOSTON] REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PROPOSED New High School Building SEPTEMBER, 1901. PRESS OF H. A. DAVIS, JR. & CO. BOSTON. 3 REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PROPOSED NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. To the Citizens of Lexington: During the past four or five years, the School Committee has repeatedly called attention to the need of better accommodations for our High School. In 1899, the Town appropriated $1,000 for the purpose of making improvements in the present building ; but the special committee appointed to expend the money unanimously reported that such an expenditure could not wisely be applied. The report was received with approval, and no changes or improvements were made, the insufficiency of accommodations being suffered to continue in the common understanding that a new building must soon be erected. Thereupon a committee was chosen to investigate and consider all matters with reference to the construction of a new High School house, of sufficient size to accommodate the High School alone, or the High School together with some of the upper grades from the Grammar Schools. In its report, submitted in January of the present year, that committee, after showing clearly the necessity for more space in order to accommodate the classes not only in the High School but in the Hancock School as well, expressed the following conclusions: "Considering the present conditions and demands, there seems to your committee three courses for the Town to choose between ;- First, to erect a new building to be occupied exclusively by the High School, and reopen some of the old district schools to relieve the Hancock School; Second, to erect a new building exclusively for the High School, and either enlarge the Hancock School or build an entirely separate building to relieve it; or, Third, to build a new building sufficiently large to accomodate the High School and some of the grades from the Hancock School, and later when necessary, from the Adams School. "After carefully considering these various plans, your committee disapprove of the first, because it believes that the reopening of the district schools would be 4 a step backward towards the system discarded ten years ago. We disapprove of the second plan as needlessly expensive at the present time, although otherwise the most desirable. We approve of the third plan, as under all the present circumstances meeting the urgent needs with the least expense, and in no way interfering with that part of the second plan, suggesting the enlargement of the Hancock School, or the erection of a separate primary building when the further growth of the town demands it. We therefor recommend that the Town immediately provide for the erection of a new school building on the site of the present High School building, or on some more desirable one, if such can be found ; said building to comprise not less than eight (8) rooms, to accommodate the High School and such grades from the Hancock School and Adams School as the School Committee may determine, and as the cost of brick construction is only about one-third more than that of wood, while its depreciation is, of course, scarcely anything as compared with wood, we recommend that the building be erected of brick. We urge that its construction be begun as early as possible, in order to relieve the present congested condition above referred to without further unnecessary detriment to the school system of the town." The votes of the town under which the present committee, now presenting its report, has supplemented the investigations conducted by the preceding committee, expressed a desire for more detailed and definite information, both as regards the cost of a new building, and as concerns the expediency of providing one adapted to accommodate the High School alone, the urgent and increasing needs of the Hancock School to be met in such case by erecting a separate building or buildings for that purpose. February 18th, this committee was instructed "to present to the town, with as little delay as possible, definite plans and estimates for the erection of one or more school buildings, to accommodate the High School, and to relieve the present crowded condition of the Hancock School. For this purpose the town appropriates the sum of $250, or so much thereof as may be found necessary, to be expended by said committee in securing plans and estimates." After conferences with the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools, a study of Lexington's school statistics, an examination of the school houses lately erected and in process of erection elsewhere, and inquiry among the State officers of education and other authorities on the subject, the members of your committee have unanimously reached substantially the same conclusion that was reached by their predecessors, namely, that reasons of economy, at least, require that the new school houses should be adapted to accommodated both the High School and two upper classes of the Hancock School. Several members of the present committee came to the performance 5 of their duties with the idea that the High School had best be kept wholly by itself, and that a separate building should be erected to relieve the Hancock School ; but their investigations left them to agree heartily in the conclusions above referred to. Indeed, all have come to doubt whether a building exclusively for the High School and a new building for some of the lower grades is, leaving entirely aside the question of extra expense, intrinsically the more desirable scheme. All agree that to go back to the district school system, and provide separate schools, each caring for all of the nine grades below the High Schools, should not be thought of. There are certain minimum requirements in a modern High School building which make the costs of one having seating and recitation room accommodations for a school like ours, numbering, say, 100, proportionately much higher than the costs of one designed to be occupied by a substantially larger number. These requirements are, first, a room or hall where all the members of the school may, at least occasionally, if not daily, be seated together, either to receive instructions from the principal, or for other purposes. Secondly, separate rooms for physical and chemical laboratories must be provided, if sufficient facilities are to he had for the teaching of the sciences, which properly play so important a part in a High School course. It is found that in fulfilling these conditions, - necessary conditions, unless Lexington's pupils are to content themselves with makeshift facilities inferior to those enjoyed by neighbouring towns, - a building assumes a size which easily furnishes class-rooms capable of seating more than the number embraced in the High School alone. In other words, the problem of getting a proper High School building means much more than the mere providing of space for seating the school in appropriate class-rooms ; and a building which provides, in the important particulars referred to, adequate accommodations naturally adapts itself to the furnishing of space for class-rooms beyond the seating requirements of the four classes. It will readily be seen, therefore, that to bring into the same building with the High School, some of the grammar school grades, is an economical plan. The facts presented by Superintendent Buck showed that to take care of the present overflow at the Hancock School House, such numbers must be removed as will empty three rooms. If these pupils shoulse be taken wholly from the lower grades, and the building proposed to be built upon the present site of the High 6 School should be adapted to the needs of that school alone, a new primary school building would have to be erected; and no one would think of constructing a school house for primary purposes having less than four rooms. The committee considered that question of erecting a separate wooden building of that size, but soon found that, apart from the difficulty of deciding upon the most suitable and convenient site, the expense of the undertaking (it was agreed that such a site would mean an expenditure for the purchase of land) added to the cost of a High School building having accommodations for that school alone, would far exceed the amount necessary to erect a suitable single building furnishing room for two-fold uses. A brief survey of the recent growth in school population, and of the conditions with which we have to deal, will be in place here. For nearly five years now, the Hancock School House has been taxed beyond its capacity. A school house with only eight class rooms, it was not adapted to seat more than about 350 pupils. The two rooms on the third floor were intended for use, not as regular class rooms, but for special work or exercises. The normal capacity of the building seating the nine regular grades failing to be sufficient to care for the steadily increasing numbers from year to year, it became necessary, in the absence of accommodations else-where, not only to re-open the Tidd School, but to press into service these two upper rooms. For the school year ending in 1891, the total average membership of the Hancock School was 291. This number rose to 323 in 1893, increased year by year thereafter, and for the year lately closed it was above 425. The over crowding at the beginning of the present* school year is such that the pupils in one grade are permitted to come to school for only one session a day. To give proper present relief to this school, provision should be made at once for at least three grades elsewhere. In the not distant future, we believe that Lexington must establish neighborhood schools for the lower grades. This means not a return to district schools, for all pupils beyond the primary stage should be brought, as heretofore, to the central grammar schools, - at the centre and at East Lexington, - where they may enjoy the advantages afforded by schools that are well graded and that have a large membership drawn from many sections of the town. But the plan which seems to be the one for our community to aim at means local schools for the very young, while they are receiving only primary instructions, and are of an age *The Superintendent reports 490 now in attendance. [Right page - blank] Lexington High School. Basement Plan. Cooper and Bailey, Architects, Boston, Mass.] [Right page - Blank] Lexington High School. First Floor Plan. Cooper and Bailey, Architects, Boston, Mass.] [Right page - Blank] Lexington High School. Second Floor Plan. Cooper and Bailey, Architects, Boston, Mass.] [Right page - Blank] Lexington High School. Third Floor Plan. Cooper and Bailey, Architects, Boston, Mass.] 7 below that of children old enough to endure, without harm, the strain of long walks or of transportation in barges. The Tidd School, re-opened for the primary pupils in that section, is an example. It seems a little early yet to determine where a new primary school house may best be located, having regard not only to present conditions, but also to the probable future growth of the town. In the mean time, the most feasible way in which to meet pressing necessities, and at the same time to make reasonable provision for the near future, seems to be to put the two upper grades of the Hancock Grammar School, the eighth and ninth, permanently in the High School building, and also, to maintain there, for a limited time, a primary school embracing children that belong in the two lowest grades. With the eighth and ninth grades located in the new building, and a primary school of, say, 40 to 50 pupils, also opened in one of its large class-rooms, the pupils remaining in the Hancock building may be so seated throughout its eight several rooms that the accommodations afforded by them will be adequate and comfortable. This arrangement cannot, however, be regarded as permanent. It will serve only for a few years ; and then nothing short of one or more separate primary school buildings, located where the then school population shall suggest, will be sufficient to meet the necessities of the case. The primary school conducted in the temporary quarters afforded by the new High School house will be composed of those children, now attending the Hancock School, who live in a district having the new building for an approximate centre, and limits extending perhaps as far as Utica Street along the Woburn Road, and Pelham Road along Massachusetts Avenue. The district would, of course, be defined by the School Committee. An estimate made by the Superintendent shows that in the territory which a primary school placed where the High School house now is would naturally serve, there are now first and second grade pupils to the number of nearly 50. It is with pleasure that we find that the plan which financial necessities of the town, urging economy, seem to dictate, is, in the opinion of high authorities in educational matters, at heart desirable. To say a word further upon the subject before calling attention to the sketches which form part of this report, we quote from a report made only two years ago by a committee of the National Education Association. That committee advises that the reforms most needed in the public schools can be worked out best by making the eighth and ninth grades "parts of the High School 8 under the immediate direction of the High School principal," and says : "From an administrative point of view, the six High School grades should eventually be in one building. As far as statistics are accessible on this point, the experiment of placing these grades in the High School building has been successful, resulting in better scholarship and a greater percentage in the number of students entering the ninth grade. The gradual change to this system would probably lead to the establishment of a larger number of less expensive High Schools, thus placing the 'people's college' nearer their homes without additional expense to the taxpayer, but with a saving in money and strength to students attending the High School. The Committee says further that by the proposed change the students of the two upper grammar grades "would gradually gain the inspiration of the High School life, and the desire to go farther in the languages and sciences which they have already begun under favourable conditions. The result would doubtless be a more closely articulated system, with a larger percentage of High School graduates." This view has the approval of our own State Board of Education, and the tendency observable today in Massachusetts is in accordance with it. In Arlington, the new High School house, built only a few years ago, contains the highest grade of the Grammar Schools, and probably would have the eighth as well, if there were room. Many towns could be cited which have adopted the same idea. Your committee, after reaching the conclusion above expressed and deciding upon the extent of accomodations which it seemed best to provide, invited competition from several architects in the preparation of preliminary plans, each set to be accompanied by a sketch or perspective view of the building proposed, and by an estimate of the cost of construction. Eight different ones accepted the invitation and submitted plans and sketeches in accordance therewith. In order to insure a collection of plans, every set of which should offer a building exhibiting room and facilities adapted as nearly a possible to our needs, we drew up some general specifications prescribing the number of full-sized class rooms (six) and the number of half-size rooms (two), the latter available for recitation purposes, or, in the alternative, for seating the smaller high school classes, juniors and seniors, and prescribing also the extent of space requisite for laboratory arrangements and some other main points. In this work we were aided not only by the examination previously made of buildings erected and in use, but by a study of plans of buildings that the committee were unable to visit. To assist us in passing upon the merits and defects of the 9 several sets of plans offered, we employed an expert, a professional architect who had no interest in the matter. The preliminary plans selected have, after further study by their makers and some changes introduced in order to fit more perfectly the needs of the situation, been re-drawn to the full scale commonly prepared for builders, and process reproductions, on a reduced scale, are printed herewith. The originals are ready for use if they are found acceptable to, and are desired by, the town. THE BUILDING RECOMMENDED. With the sketch and diagrams here printed, the proposed building will, we think, speak clearly for itself, leaving little in the way of verbal description necessary. To the committee it seems that the architects, stimulated to the utmost of their skill by the reflection that its product may be seen by the thousands who pass to and fro along Massachusetts Avenue in this historic town, have produced a building remarkable for the simple and chaste beauty of its exterior. It is well calculated, we believe, to meet the requirement which has many times been urged upon the committee, namely, a building which shall be an ornament to the town. Of a distinctly colonial appearance, and resembling, as it does, an entrance which clearly suggests, if it does not preserve, the pillared front of the old building, the proposed structure seems particularly appropriate for the conspicuous site on which it is intended to place it. It will be seen that while a pleasing architectural effect has been sought for, the aim has been regulated by considerations of economy. The plan calls for a rectangular building, without wings, bays, or projections or other costly features. It measures 67 x 124 feet, and has an area of about 8,300 feet. It is proposed to build it of plain, pale red brick, of ordinary size, known as old Colonial or Harvard brick, the roof balustrade, however, the cornice, and the columns to be of wood painted white. The use of wood in these ornamental features will, of course, be much less expensive than metal and stone, and the less costly material may well enough, we, think, be employed. Granite front steps and buttresses, a line of granite in the underpinning next above the basement wall, a water-table of Ohio or Indiana limestone, and a slate roof are other features. The six full-sized rooms are each 23 x 35 feet ; those marked 10 recitation and class rooms are 23 x 27. All are 12 feet high. The former will seat easily, at desks, 40 pupils (the number recommended), each, and 45 or 48 if the desks be arranged as near together as is often allowed. The two smaller rooms, intended for either class rooms or recitation rooms, will accommodate 24 desks. It will thus be seen that the minimum seating capacity of the building in class room service is 288, and more than 300 could be received if occasion should require. The present High School with a membership of 100 strong may be suitably arranged by its four classes and seated in three of the larger rooms (taken on either the first or second floor as may be preferred), and one of the smaller rooms, leaving the other of the two 23 x 27 rooms on the first floor available for separate use in recitation work. For some time, therefore, the remaining three of the larger class-rooms, and also one of the smaller ones, may be utilized for the two grammar grades and the primary school proposed to be detached from the Hancock School and installed in the new building temporarily. The basement space, save that required for boilers and fresh air closets, forming part of the heating and ventilating system, and for ample coal bins sufficient for a year's supply, has been left as open as possible, inasmuch as a proper disposition of it may be better determined in the future. The rooms or spaces marked A, B, and C, on the basement plan may be utilized in accordance with such needs as shall arise. Some or all of them might well be used for manual training purposes, if hereafter desired. The falling surface of the ground in the rear of the building admits of long windows in C, which give the room abudant light. Its height is eleven feet, since the floor in this portion of the basement drops two and one-half feet lower than the level of the concrete in the front basement. Into the basement at either end are doors opening from out of doors and placed beneath the steps which lead to the end entrances of the building. In the third story, the central roof space allows a hall about 44 x 52 feet, exclusive of the stage, the length of the hall extending across the building. The finishing of this hall is included in the cost. The heating and ventilating system embraced in the plans is no experiment. Its basis is steam heat. In the several fresh-air compartments in the basement, the air, thoroughly warmed by steam radiating surface, is supplied to the rooms through brick 11 ducts or flues, and the foul air is withdrawn and forced through separate flues to the atmosphere outside by the direct radiation of steam coils inserted in them. In the corridors will be ordinary steam radiators, and in a few other places heat will be supplied by direct radiation. No method of ventilation can be quite so effective as a blower system operated by mechanical or electrical power ; but this costs much more to install originally, and is more expensive to maintain ; and the one proposed not only meets the full approval of the State authorities but follows the scheme of ventilating now in most general use in school houses and other public buildings. Following are examples of school houses that use it : Boston, (nearly all) Roxbury Stoneham No. Adams Arlington Heights Belmont Brookline Quincy Somerville Southborough Brighton Fall River Milford Leominster Newbury Winchester Roslindale Winthrop Newton Cambridge Malden Westfield Beverly The cost of the building constructed as planned, including plumbing, heating and ventilating, electric wiring, tables and fixtures in the laboratories, rough grading, architects' commission and everything outside of such new desks and school furniture as the School Committee may find to be necessary, on occupying the finished structure, will not, we are assured, exceed $55,000. The figures approach very closely this sum. This is no rough estimate, either by architects or builders ; for full and detailed specifications of the building, in addition to completed plans, have been prepared and submitted to contractors for their bids. The statement which we make of the costs is based upon bids already received from thoroughly responsible parties, but they are conditioned upon early acceptance. Of the $250 appropriation made for the uses of the committee the amount expended, exclusive of the cost of printing this report is about $185. To Messrs. Cooper & Bailey, whose courtesy and skill have produced the plans and drawings now in the committee's hands, the town has come under no liability, and no compensation will accrue to them unless the town shall proceed in accordance with their plans, employing them as the architects, in which case they will receive the usual commission of five per cent on the cost of the building. As already said, such commission is included in the above statement as to cost. 12 What disposition to make of the High School during the construction, is not an easy problem. Several schemes have been considered. On the whole only one course seems at all practicable, and that is to move the present strcture to the rear of the lot, place it upon a temporary wooden underpining made tight and warm for the winter, and let the school be continued in the building until the new one shall be ready for use. The school must necessarily be closed for a short time while the removal is being effected. It may be determined later what shall be the final use or disposition of the old building. As to the probable cost of moving and setting it up, and the time required for the work, the committee will report orally at the town meeting. In conclusion, the committee recommends that the town provide for the immediate construction of substantially the building described in this report, to this end appropriating the sum of $55,000, the money to be borrowed on the notes of the town, payable one each year during the period of ten years ; and that to enable the placing of the new building in a suitable location upon the High School House lot, the present building to be moved to the rear of the lot. For this latter purpose there should be a special appropriaton of a few hundred dollars. In view of the fact that the last instalment of the Hancock School House Loan has now been paid so that the town is relieved of the $6,000 annual charge which has been upon it for several years, and in view, also, of the fact that the first of a series of $10,000 annual payments on account of the Water Loan will begin in 1906, the committee believes that instead of providing for payment of the new loan in ten equal instalments, it would be more prudent to make provision for paying $10,000 in each of the years 1902, 1903, 1904, and 1905, thereby making the remaining six annual payments to be met concurrently with the Water Loan payments only $2,500 each. Respectfully submitted. EDWIN A. BAYLEY, ROBERT P. CLAPP, HENRY W. LEWIS, ROGER I. SHERMAN, H. A. C. WOODWARD, Committee. September 21, 1901. [Right page - Blank] 200 2764