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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-03-SSBC Lexington's Junior High School Program.pdf R E P O R T Standing School Building Committee Lexington, Massachusetts March 1958 a 1. S y d q a. ..mow Z + 14@i1 t ' 'ttta e"t1F, ",,..„ .' : _ i«tTi•e 41 pa w 1 % a .1_,H; ; 4.[.�- ,.,,,,, - ._. ''. ... 1 r , ji w i { i I i �', t. 5 LEXINGTON'S JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM Committee Superintendent o f Schools ALVIN W. DAVIS JOHN BLACKHALL SMITH ELEANOR P Fox Education Consultants FREDERIC K JOHNSON CAMBRIDGE CONSULTANTS, INC WILLIAM G POTTER ROBERT B KENT, Secretary-Treasurer Secretary AUSTIN W FISHER JR , Chairman DOROTHY D SEYMOUR Committee Report The Standing School Building Committee was established 1958 Town Meeting for the construction and equipping of a under Article 37 of the Warrant for the 1957 Annual Town new Junior High School on land owned by the Town and Meeting to handle all phases of school building projects appropriated $75,000 for the necessary expenses. There was authorized by the Town. The Committee was appointed late not time to complete this assignment, although drawings and in May of 1957 and held its first meeting on June 4. specifications are sufficiently complete for the estimate of costs The 1957 Annual Town Meeting under Article 40 of given in this report. The Committee expects to have firm bids in hand by the end of April 1958 at which time it will the warrant directed the Committee to prepare final plans recommend appropriation of the necessary funds based on and specifications and bring in firm bids for action by the 1958 Town Meeting for the remodeling of the present Junior the lowest responsible bid High School and appropriated $40,000 for the necessary With two major projects and a very tight time schedule, expenses This assignment has been carried out and bids are the Committee has met on the average of more than once to be opened on March 18 The Committee will recommend a week since its formation. The amount to be done was so appropriation of the necessary funds under Article 40 of the great that the Committee decided, in order to fulfill its 1958 Town Warrant on the basis of the lowest responsible responsibility properly, that it should retain educational bid submitted consultants. The Committee has no reservations in stating that this expenditure has been more than justified in shortening Under Article 41 of its Warrant, the 1957 Annual Town the time required to carry out its assignments and in saving Meeting further directed the Committee to prepare final plans money through taking advantage of information and ideas and specifications and bring in firm bids for action by the which otherwise would not have been available Complete drawings and specifications for both protects may be examined by any citizen at the offices of the Super intendent of Schools or of the two architects Accounting for Appropriated Funds New Building Renovation (Paid or committed under contract) Architects and Engineers $70,000 00 $35,000 00 Site maps and borings 1,900 00 Consultants 2,000 00 2,000 00 Clerical Assistance 90 00 200 00 Office supplies, postage, etc. 156.43 127 35 Report (estimated) 250 00 250 00 Balance 603 57 2,422 65 Total Appropriation $75,000 00 $40,000 00 Respectfully submitted, AUSTIN W FISHER, JR., Chairman The Function of the Standing School Building Committee The basis for the design or renovation of any school building is the education program established by the School Committee. This determines the number and type of teaching stations, the size of classes and the necessary general facilities. In addition there are state laws governing public buildings in general and schools in particular with regard to factors involving health and safety The School Building Assistance Commission also has standards for the approval of new school plans Within the framework of these requirements the Committee and its architects and consultants must work out a design which provides the Town and the School Depart ment with the best practical building at the lowest possible cost. The Junior High School Program The objective of the Junior High School, as established by years of success throughout the country, is to provide for a sound transition from the closely directed, fixed group system of grades 1 to 6 to the more flexible, individual program of the High School. In another sense, it is intended to cover the period of adjustment between childhood depend ence and adolescent independence. It is not the function of this report to present or justify this program. However, it is important to note that it brings about some differences in building requirements from either elementary or high schools. From 1929 to 1953, Lexington had in effect a three year Junior High School. However, it shared a building built for a Senior High School with the upper three grades In 1953, grade 9 was moved to the new High School and grades 7 and 8 shared the building for two years with a Central Elementary School. Since 1955 it has been occupied by grades 7 and 8 only As of September 1959, the High School will not have room for the four upper grades and the present building will not be adequate for grades 7 and 8 The School Committee proposes a return to an up to date program of a three year Junior High School system, by providing a new building in addition to the present facility to solve this problem. The 1957 Town Meeting in effect approved this approach. The Standing School Building Committee was requested to provide in these two buildings a total normal capacity of 1700 pupils and a maximum capacity of 1800 to 1850 Remodeling of the Present Facility Architect C. HARRY ERICKSON, Lexington Engineers CLEVERDON, VARNEY AND PIKE, Boston The present Junior High School building is structurally practical for the building to be left unoccupied during a sound on a small but adequate site in a good location. The school year, there is no advantage from a school operation older part was built in 1908 and the rest added in 1925, all point of view Economic forecasters indicate that construction on the basis of use as a High School. While no significant costs will continue to rise significantly in the next few years changes have ever been made, the building has been well so that postponement for two or three years would mean a maintained. There is no reason why it cannot be used as a higher cost to the Town. Furthermore, some of the items in Junior High School for at least another twenty years if the program cannot be further delayed and would have to properly renovated according to the proposed program. be done separately at somewhat higher cost. This Committee has been charged with providing for The Committee considered carrying out the program over the same educational and activities program and, insofar as two or three years Several of the major problems such as possible, the equivalent in facilities as is being provided for lighting and ventilation involve essentially the whole building the children who will use the new building. It has also It would be much more efficient to complete all needed work considered that all facilities should be brought up to a while the various trades are in the building. Overhead items condition such that only normal maintenance will be required would be lower if the job were done all at once. Any incon- for at least the next twenty years venience to school operation can be scheduled and will occur The Committee had the advantage of two previous studies only once. Since the cost of the project can be bonded over of the renovation problem, one by the Junior High School a ten year period, the Committee decided that the most Survey Committee in 1955 and the other by the School economical approach for the Town is to include all essential Committee and the Architects Collaborative which resulted items under one general contract to be carried out during in a proposal to the 1957 Annual Town Meeting. This proposal the spring, summer and early in the fall of this year Some items have been included which were not in the 1957 proposal. was rejected The present Committee was then provided with $40,000 and directed to reconsider the problem and to bring On the other hand, the Committee has not included a number in final bids to the 1958 Annual Town Meeting A complete of possible changes, which,while desirable, were not considered resurvey of the facility has been made and the Committee of sufficient importance to justify their cost to the Town. has reconsidered all aspects of the problem in preparing the The proposed renovation program can best be presented specifications on which bids will be based. under four major headings (1) modernization of general Careful consideration has been given to the advisability services, (2) changes or improvements to specific areas needed of further postponement. Since the need for the facility is to satisfy the program or to make them fully useful, (3) clear and there is no time in the future when it would be redecoration and repairs and (4) equipment. Modernization of General Services First Floor (about 40% of total cost) Move Principal s office to. present Superintendent s The present lighting is far below today s standards office with minor changes (The School Committee throughout the building (7 vs 25 foot candles in classrooms) has decided to provide facilities elsewhere for the Installation of fluorescent fixtures throughout, though in them- Superintendent and his staff, releasing the equivalent selves more expensive than incandescents, will avoid the of four classrooms.) necessity for rewiring and will be cheaper to operate for the same illumination. Convert present Principal s office to adequate library Enlarge three classrooms in old section by moving The existing heating and ventilating system is below corridor wall which must be replaced anyway standard and poorly controlled. An increase in air circulation is required but will be offset by more efficient use of fuel with Minor revisions in other classrooms, music rooms modern control Individual room units in the old section will and stage. replace the present central fan and ducts. New separate systems Provide floor in light well beside auditorium for in the gymnasium and auditorium will permit the present storage and conference rooms. central blower to satisfy requirements in the new section. Some plumbing changes and improvements are required Second Floor including a new hot water system. The sprinkler system must be expanded. Convert present library and adjacent classroom to art rooms. It is important to note that while state health and safety Provide floor in light well beside auditorium for laws cannot be made retroactive, once any revision is proposed rest and work rooms for teachers zt must bring the building up to the full present requirements in order to be approved Minor changes in science rooms and other classrooms. Changes and Improvements Third Floor (about 30% of total cost) With the release of four classrooms by the removal of the Superintendent s office, the required capacity Basement—no items in this category of 800 to 850 pupils can be realized without use Ground Floor (this is the area of major change.) of the third floor Space is actually available for Expand and improve the kitchen by rebuilding only three classrooms There are operating disad front steps to building. vantages to a four-story building and the safety Expand the cafeteria and teachers dining room. problem in case of fire or panic is real. Rebuild present boys locker room for girls (Present The total direct cost of renovation of this area (not area so bad that girls do not take showers) including related fees and other overhead charges) for regular Relocate homemaking rooms to area of present girls use of 90 pupils was estimated at $45,000, including satisfying locker room, putting all girls activities together on state safety codes and providing proper lavatory facilities. north and east sides. This cost per classroom or per square foot approaches the cost for building the equivalent new space. For these reasons the Provide new boys locker room in area near shops Committee decided that the third floor should be abandoned in space now largely used for fans and ducts. as instructional area. Access will be restricted by locked folding Minor rearrangement in shop and drawing areas. gates so that the area can be used, if desired, for storage or Balance of ground floor rearranged for storage, occasionally for special supervised student projects No changes maintenance, student activities and audio-visual space. or redecoration will be made in this area. Redecoration and Repairs (about 15% of total cost) Equipment (about 15% of total cost) Under this category all areas will be repainted using a The revisions and improvements plus a few special modern color scheme and repairs and patching to floors, walls requirements of the 9th grade will necessitate some new and ceilings will be made as necessary Many areas of the equipment. The bulk of this cost will be in kitchen and building already are in need of this now and with the changes cafeteria equipment, lockers for physical education and corridor in lighting and ventilating in practically every room as well use, a new folding door in the gym to replace worn-out canvas as other revisions, a complete redecorating job will be essential curtain, new instructors tables for science, homemaking equip- following their completion.With the several trades in the build ment. Replacement of existing equipment is limited to those ing under regular supervision during the program, redecoration needed items which must be installed by a contractor can be done most efficiently as part of the overall contract. Cost of the Program Accurate cost estimates for a renovation program are extremely difficult. Final bids (on the basis of 27 drawings and a 250 page book of specifications) will be on hand to form the basis of the actual request for appropriation at the 1958 Annual Town Meeting. The architect and the engineers have analyzed the program carefully and estimate that the total cost should not exceed $570,000 including the $40,000 already appropriated. This includes items of 10% of the general contract for contingencies, 10% for architectural and engineering fees plus provision for a clerk of the works and other committee expenses. In estimating the portion of the total cost for the four categories described above, all of these overhead items were distributed on a proportional basis. By special Act of the State Legislature (Chapter 4 of the Acts of 1958), Lexington is permitted to borrow for a ten year period outside of its debt limit up to $600,000 for this project. Recommendations as to the actual pattern of financing will be presented to the Town by the Appropriations Committee and the Capital Expenditures Committee. tarbeme nWsreuuNTS SAMNA T LM >,3133,1 Aw2[G.na .Cuomt C aLD ® J I® lTOILET >PEOM/ D C s1.TIw >Aus STOeAo[ • � >ToE31 EA UK. �Tte- te-- 1r-•. 0 •-f- � t SEAMS SA TTees. JT 51.01.42 a9 TELMILLs'WoeNOON [ > 'iD ® A ® T( I® onto Zoom 41 WOMEN TM/UM'21STb Fee KOOM 12 wokws Mart ' L TJI e 51 N Ller.ecy 1<Nue. D AUDIO-Vlsu4t 41 STOLL.4 Wote Ae[A 1^ N T SCAMS DINING b u[ntte took. T D T CIAN 19 ADM NISTALTIDN OIf,e2 b tITCN[N 90 V ca PCINCIPAS S E C 1`� 9 LecnvlNo R ST02AGL 51 Pe1NC PAL ll I�' IF , 1 til' , Wim/, m 06120y22a X GOATS}5,oeece Y III ll, A :' 0 v 21 CAMELIA U AUD,T000N 22 ALT N STAG. 23 STUD'NT ACTIvrty eh D'ouvr hers Loc ey 21 LoeS2 Boy,Loc.[,YOWL CL[CTe1cAL 96 GILs'Locatea Km u u(ootl u INATLUCToe 17GLDTU132G 195NON[t, 9e LIVING ALcov[ 20 DU N4 29 LtN[Dlel N[Gun I I 11®I Jo LY4l G2OUP ID>TtUGT,DN 22 Geou 133,221•2, �'6 QA` 31 4Ne(mote121.3 OcxnTu 25 PASS G./WAN.E St Ukleoew3 2,30200042 ® J1. y 2 .11I ® �®1®1®i® 2 3� _ :1® 0 —r i „-„, T-0 ,.....J 1"1 �� .0 .:OI. _ ._____. „ivr� r, r II/® • Iii ® 1 Ili- ►> t , ilit L v I S T r ®� F L is. II R L_ J Ii-- ®-re1t° 14 C ® I @ 0 o ® Q �� . ;.0.7,,,, d s, „ dkms.'vt v „yW rind, . ~r ' p; E . ,, -, ,_e At 4 4 • i .,7N. ,:¢4arf Y�L 3' 'ht:': '^ 4,,'.-2F,.Eby'afi.,°,:f.'fi-', ,`A,'.:'"ir,r .' 4Z'f, .,k,,- e 4 f44;..114,101 S' O '; "`.SYS"• ,,,r,,-:=014, - .,. ,. Yl, +�R: ... _,_ w C' V:: The New Junior High School Architect CHARLES H. COLE 2ND, Lexington The Building Engineers CLEVERDON, VARNEY AND PIKE, Boston Landscape Architect SHURCLIFF, SHURCLIFF AND Descriptive material on the building and a floor plan MERRILL, Boston follow The Committee has done its best to take the following factors into account in all its decisions Equipment Consultant SAMUEL CRABTREE, Belmont 1 The education program prepared by the School The Site Committee. 2 State and local health and safety regulations. A 35-acre site for this building was purchased by the Town in 1957 on the basis of options arranged previously The 3 Effective use of the site. land is located near the Fiske School in the area between 4. A permanent and attractive building without frills Adams Street and Burlington Street as indicated on the small and extras. map on the back cover About 4 acres in the southwest corner 5 Efficient and controllable pupil traffic. is an attractive wooded knoll while 9 acres in the northeast corner is low swampy land. The balance is a relatively flat 6. Isolation of noisy areas. field, well adapted for both the building and the play fields. 7 Provision for minimum maintenance. A trunk sewer runs through the middle of the site While 8. Flexibility for future program changes. this has caused some problems in the location of the build- ings, it permits substantial savings since otherwise a long 9 Lowest practical cost. run of connecting sewer or extensive filter beds would have The Committee believes that the proposed plan will been required. provide the Town with an attractive and economical facility The Timing In spite of the utmost effort on the part of the Committee and its Architect it was not possible to complete the work properly in time to have final bids ready for the Town Meeting in March. It was felt that it would be better not to risk short cuts or ask for an appropriation on the basis of an estimate The present plan is to open bids late in April and call a special Town Meeting about a week later to request an appro- priation based on the lowest responsible bid. Barring any serious delays because of strikes or unusual weather, there is enough time to complete construction by September of 1959 providing ground can be broken by early June EDUCATIONAL DATA BUILDING DESCRIPTION Pupil Capacity 900 Structural System Non-Specialized Classrooms 20 Reinforced Concrete Grid Flat Slab Special Classrooms 15 Curtain Walls Homemaking 2 Arts and Crafts 2 Roof General Science 5 Planning 1 Structure Reinforced Concrete Music 2 Shop 3 Poured Gypsum Special Facilities Surface Four ply Tar and Gravel P Windows Cafeteria 350 Health Room Aluminum Projected-out Vents Kitchen Teachers Room Library Offices Exterior Walls Auditorium 500 Remedial Facing Brick or Concrete Activity Rooms Audio-Visual Backing Masonry Block Guidance Rooms Storage Rooms Partitions Masonry Block Cinder or Concrete Floors Concrete Framed and on fill Lighting Teaching Areas Fluorescent CONSTRUCTION COSTS Other Areas Incandescent Estimated Costs Finish Contract Price $1,830,000 00 Walls Paint, stain, glazed tile Per Square Foot $ 19 31 Floors Vinyl-Asbestos tile Per Pupil $ 2,033 00 Ceilings Acoustic tile, Paint Heating Additional Costs Low Pressure Steam Oil Fired Architect-Engineer $ 115,000 00 Sanitary System Equipment $ 200,000 00 Public Disposal Sewer Contingency $ 75,000 00 Water Supply Total Estimated Cost $2,220,000 00 Public Town Water System a00 1, ---- c‘• 3 ) 7za •z \,) I m `/ /' OOK RU N \\ ATMOfCNE O T.. G F.L4•i1 ok 1/4cir---0-- J `,ys4,P � TLOCK ��' __._,..___ Ra, F15KE ��, �//M�': 0„ �• ) I-4 0--poi/ SCHOOL_ vie lik PARK ijJ loilAriglio in il ill ,N, 4,..:. .0,iy, , .. ' _......iiii..... . ars'' t=9 O ' WOODLAND RD , 6 icc A „0"4.4,, �� AVE' MERtAMY ---w "9` r *:;$ 11 I �; Q N,to ' vV RD. ` rS`AkE aRgWk R. �_HCk� GO CW ✓ R� i04) S ` r / ��l4• 64" /4.k , \i . _ ,, ryn 4GOQ AVE• �qO . 4. • 4. / ss 3 ? P� vP ti. 'QSE •• • ; •i )1.0" „ Oypus. BOG A �1A040111641- 14 4.14' WK3, �(LAM G•,r'' .�t j a us cr 41.7f `t. /BEDFORD _ r r em°% >. 4. �,.,_ o 461 s r Sec 34 66,P L &R ANNUAL TOWN MEETING TO BE HELD U S POSTAGE PAID IN MARCH, 1958 Lexington, Mass. Permit No. 3011