The project: The all-new Galvin Middle School was designed for 1,100 students. The project required careful site planning to allow the existing school to remain operational during phased construction, while meeting an extensive set of program needs.

The goal: The primary goal was to create a high-performing, sustainable campus environment that could support a wide range of educational, recreational, and transportation needs, while also achieving Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) verification.

The design: The site plan integrated two artificial turf soccer fields, an outdoor classroom, generous plaza areas, a small skatepark, parking facilities, and safe student drop-off areas. Bicycle accommodation included parking for over 50 bikes and widened sidewalks connecting to public areas. Working closely with the principal and school leadership, the team designed an outdoor classroom featuring boat-themed garden planters, reclaimed stone and boulder seating, a water source, and a garden storage area. Stormwater management was addressed through a sports field base design that retained and infiltrated stormwater within the stone base layer of the synthetic turf fields, maximizing usable open space.

The outcome: The completed Galvin Middle School site offers a dynamic and sustainable environment that supports both educational activities and community recreation. It meets CHPS standards, provides a safe and accessible campus, and creatively manages stormwater while maximizing functional open space for students and the surrounding community.