Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


5 Massachusetts Counties Unveil New Campuses

Elementary and high school students at five Massachusetts schools kicked off the 2012 school year on brand new campuses this month. Grafton High, Tewksbury Memorial High, Wellesley High, Billerica Parker Elementary, and Stow Pompositticut Center Elementary recently wrapped up construction of new classrooms and facilities designed to support collaborative, technology-based learning.

The design for the new campuses came from Cambridge, MA-based architectural firm Symmes Maini & McKee Associates (SMMA). The architecture supports the schools' objectives for learning, sustainability, and technology integration. Classrooms and learning spaces, including libraries, language labs, and media centers, are designed to foster collaboration and student-centric learning. Three of the schools--Billerica Parker Elementary, Wellesley High, and Stow Pompositticut Center Elementary—include new systems and lighting aimed at boosting energy efficiency. All of the schools feature technologies such as interactive white boards, video conferencing tools, and Wi-Fi networks that support goals for 21st century teaching and learning.

The new campuses reflect a departure from traditional school design and a move toward a more interactive, social learning environment, said Alex Pitkin, director of institutional practice for SMMA, in a prepared statement. “Each of these new schools, and the design strategies behind each," explained Pitkin, "share common goals within learning environments where students can develop individual creativity, collaboration skills, and form positive bonds with peers, teachers and staff. ”

The new schools have received positive reviews from students, faculty, administrators, and members of the community, according to the prepared statement. "This is an investment," said Andrew Deslaurier, chairman of Billerica's Board of Selectmen. "This transforms an entire community."

About the Author

Kanoe Namahoe is online editor for 1105 Media's Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Teacher meeting parents discussing student progress in classroom

    Michigan's Flint Community Schools Adopts Human-Centered Approach to Fight Chronic Absenteeism

    In an effort to boost enrollment and combat chronic absenteeism, Michigan's Flint Community Schools has partnered with Concentric Educational Solutions to help address the academic, social, emotional, and environmental factors that prevent students from enrolling, re-enrolling, or attending school.

  • Woman analyses digital data stream on large screen

    GoGuardian Launches Ed Tech Compliance and Risk Management Tool, Offers Free 60-Day Trial

    GoGuardian has announced the launch of GoGuardian Discover, a new product designed to provide district technology leaders a unified view of their entire ed tech ecosystem, including tool usage, compliance risk, and spending.

  • abstract smartphone translucent screen displaying AI interface

    Apple Unveils Redesigned Siri AI

    At its recent Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced Siri AI, a redesigned version of its voice assistant that Apple describes in its own announcement as "a profoundly more capable and personal assistant." The update is intended to make Siri more conversational, more context-aware, and more useful across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro.

  • Businessman using laptop analyzing data and growth graph chart

    Report: AI Budgets in Education Show No Sign of Decline

    The vast majority of education organizations (98%) expect their AI infrastructure budgets to either increase or hold steady over the next year, according to a report from cloud storage provider Wasabi.