Excel Academy Greenway
East Boston, MA
Continuing our work with Excel Academy, Studio G performed a high-level assessment study of potential sites and program test fits to identify the right location for the middle school formerly located in Orient Heights. Applying our deep understanding of Excel Academy’s educational approach, curriculum, inclusive education, and community culture Studio G’s team evaluated multiple sites for renovation, addition, and new construction. Ultimately the study showed that a new construction middle school on their Bremen Street campus in East Boston made the most sense to meet educational program, financial, and operational needs.
The new 3-story Excel Academy Greenway is sited on the tight urban site above the existing parking lot of Excel Academy Charter High School. Parking is preserved through a design that elevates the majority of building over parking. Special structural welded frames eliminate the need for cross bracing, allowing maximum site circulation for vehicles and pedestrians.
The exterior envelope exceeds energy code and delivers high-performance acoustic separation for learning spaces from the loud urban environment, including adjacent highway and airport runway. The first-floor exterior cladding is polished face concrete block for durability and resiliency. The upper two floors are clad with Morin metal panels in a mixture of textures and colors to differentiate the various volumes of the building and direct occupants to the school’s entry. Colors of the new middle school reference the high school and reinforce the campus-feel. Construction was completed with the adjacent high school fully occupied.
The 19,200 SF school serves 230 students in grades 5-8 with an elegantly organized, efficient layout. A community circle with storefront windows at each side provides a bright commons space on the 1st floor for grade-wide community meetings or large group instruction. This space is located immediately off the entry vestibule to accommodate large numbers of students entering and exiting the building before and after school. The Community Circle room is visually connected to upper floor classrooms via an open stair that winds around the elevator shaft. The same polished face concrete masonry block used on the exterior cladding was used to construct the elevator shaft. The block at this elevator shaft serves double duty as both the structural support for the three-story shaft and the finish material that forms walls of the staircase used by students to reach daylit classrooms and breakout spaces on the upper floors.
Overlooking the Boston skyline and curvilinear roofs of the East Boston Boston Public library, the 3rd floor STEAM classroom provides an economical, dynamic learning environment with a sink, storage wall, and extra data and electrical outlets at perimeter walls and ceiling mounted electrical spools. This classroom provides the maximum flexibility for future furniture and equipment layout changes as the school's STEAM program evolves.
Staff are supported with new offices and workrooms, meeting rooms, and dedicated on-site childcare.