After significant review and input from town residents, we have narrowed the options for the Wellesley High School Building Project to two: The Forum (renovation/addition) and the Hub (1-phase, all new construction). Please see below for further information on this decision and on other progress.
Thank you to all who attended one of our Moving Forward meetings in March. Attendance was high and drew out important information and questions. Your participation in this process is vital to a successful building project.
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~The Wellesley SBC
Focusing on Two Options
Last night, members of the SBC and PBC voted to narrow the Options Review to two approaches:
The "Forum" - a renovation/addition which is named for the forum-type student commons located in the center of the building plan. This option is a 3-phase gut-renovation of the 1938 building with new construction.
The "Hub" - all new construction which is named for the central "hub" for gathering and eating, located at the front door of the school with views to the outside. This option is a 1-phase all new construction project.
Details on the two options are available online and include descriptions of the design and construction phasing, general floor plans, and building "massing" (the physical bulk of the building on the site).
Determining One Design
The SBC will be making a final determination on the option which best meets the project criteria and balances the multiple project priorities. Once determined, the option will move forward in the process for detailed schematic design and project development.
As part of the process, we will be conducting a new series of public meetings to provide the opportunity for the public to weigh in on this important decision. These "Decision Point" meetings will provide a close look at the two options extending the information provided at the Moving Forward meetings in March. Information will include cost evaluations, interior perspectives and elevation graphics (how the buildings would appear from street level).
The public meetings will be held as follows (note: specific audiences are indicated, but all meetings are open to the general public):
Wed, Apr 30 at 7:30 pm Wellesley MIDDLE School auditorium (constituent groups)
Sun, May 4 at 3:00 pm Police Station (all community welcome)
Tue, May 6 at 7:30 pm - cablecast live Wellesley MIDDLE School auditorium (Town Meeting Members)
Mon, May 12 at 1:00 pm Wellesley Free Library, Wakelin Room (all community welcome)
Tue, May 20 at 7:30 pm Wellesley HIGH School Auditorium (all community welcome)
The SBC and PBC will be meeting to review the discussions as noted at the right. A final determination will be made by May 22nd.
We encourage you to attend one of these important meetings on the High School Building Project.
Rave Reviews
The SBC film entitled "If these walls could talk...WHS from the Inside Out" has received great acclaim and is a must-see for all town residents. Cynthia Westerman, town resident and SBC member, narrated and walks the viewer through the halls of WHS providing a clear, concise and visual tour of the building.
The film is showing on The Wellesley Channel through May 22nd as follows:
Mondays at noon Tuesdays at 3:30 pm Wednesdays at 9:00 pm
The 25-minute film provides information necessary for thoughtful decision-making on the High School Building Project and we strongly encourage you to tune in.
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Important Dates
Moving Forward Meeting - REPLAY
The Moving Forward Meeting held on March 19th was videotaped. You can view the replay on The Wellesley Channel as follows:
Sat, Mar 29 @ 2:30 pm Sun, Mar 30 @ 10:30 pm
Annual Town Meting
Starts March 31, 7:30 pm
Wellesley Middle School.
SBC/PBC Meetings
Thu, May 15, 8:00 pm Town Hall, Great Hall On the agenda: Review of "Decision Point" meetings.
Thu, May 22, 7:30 pm Town Hall, Great Hall On the agenda: Final option decision.
Reference Articles
Recently added:
The WHS Project: A Principal's Perspective, by Andrew Keough, Wellesley High School Principal and SBC Member. Insights into how a high school building is integral to the learning experience, effective curriculum delivery and a student's sense of well-being.
WHS: a 50-year Solution, Physically and Functionally, by Tom Goemaat, Member of SBC. While the physical building must be built to last 50 years, it must also be functional for as long. This article provides a summary of why past proposals have failed to meet both objectives and why there really is no "low cost" option.
Reality Check on the WHS Building, by Steve Gagosian, Member of the SBC and Permanent Building Committee. A cursory look at the condition of the WHS physical plant and state of the systems and structures.
Building for the future, by Tom Goematt, Member of the SBC. A preliminary cost evaluation of the High School options, including the critical factors and variables which impact costs.
Learning from Others, by Cynthia Westerman, Member of the SBC. A summary of the site visits to local high schools which have recently undergone renovation and/or new construction.
For Performance or Sport: The Space Matters, by Suzanne Littlefield, School Committee and SBC Member. A summary of the School Committee decisions regarding design of the Auditorium and Gymnasium spaces to enable the WPS Educational Program.
Enabling Core Values, by the SBC. The key principles (in order of priority) to serve as the foundation for decision-making in the High School Project.
The WHS Project and You, by Katherine L. Babson, Jr., Chair of the SBC. The impact of the High School Project on each and every resident and the commitment to two-way communication.
How Public Education has evolved in Wellesley, by Bella Wong, Superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools. How the many changes in teaching methods, state and federal mandates to education, and the importance of the extracurricular programs impact the current Educational Program.
WHS Project: The Pieces of the Puzzle, by Bella Wong, Superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools. A summary of the physical space needed to enable the WPS Educational Program. The resulting "Architectural Educational Program" details what is included and where it is located and as such, becomes the basis for the building design.
WHS Project: The Importance of Site, by Marlene Allen, Member of the School Committee and Chair of the Interboard Land Use Working Group. A summary of the study conducted by the Land Use Working Group to assess the constraints and opportunities afforded by the land parcels adjacent to the current High School site.
SBC Members
Katherine L. Babson, Jr. Selectmen Representative SBC Chairman
Steve Baker Citizen-Architect
Tom Goemaat Citizen-Contractor
Steve Gagosian PBC Representative
Rusty Kellogg Advisory Representative
Andrew Keough High School Principal
Hans Larsen Executive Director
Suzy Littlefield School Committee Representative
Kathy Mullaney PBC Projects Administrator
Cynthia Westerman Citizen-Project Manager
Bella Wong Superintendent of Schools
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