5 Blog Post 5 March 5 Community Tour and Forum Summary

March 5 Community Tour and Forum Summary

March 19, 2018

Over 100 community members – from preschool parents to senior citizens – got an inside look at the current AHS facility on Monday March 5th.  A dozen High School students and teachers were on hand to guide visitors through the facility – a necessity given the complex series of buildings, levels, hallways and dead-end stairwells that make up the AHS campus.  

This was the third event planned by the AHS Building Committee in an effort to invite the community to engage in the process of renovating or rebuilding the century-old Arlington landmark.  After the tour, consultant David Stephen from New Vista Design shared common design patterns for new High Schools across the nation.

Resources:

Highlights of the tour included:

  • Classrooms with pillars that obstruct views for teachers and students
  • Science classrooms with outdated equipment and columns (and all are smaller than recommended by the Mass. Building Authority)
  • The Makerspace (aka old Wood Shop), a 21st century multi-disciplinary location for project-based learning, hidden in the basement
  • The Library Learning Commons (aka Media Center), where a ‘clean’ makerspace (computers/laser printer) and collaboration areas accompany books
  • The Lowe Auditorium, a dated facility that serves the school’s thriving performing arts programs
  • An undersized band/orchestra room, a hub of activity from dawn to late evening
  • The facility’s two gyms that host regional athletic competitions
  • ‘The Pit’, the original gym and original section of the building
  • A cafeteria designed for 375 students, that services 450 students at a time

After seeing first-hand where the nationally ranked AHS program is delivered, David Stephen shared ideas of ‘what could be’ and asked attendees what resonated with them as they think of the AHS of the future.  With inspiration and creative ideas flowing, Stephen discussed design patterns such as:

  • Flexibility: adaptive, agile, varied learning spaces
  • Classroom neighborhoods: clusters of departmental or interdisciplinary spaces
  • Collaborative & Quiet spaces: distributed, varied spaces throughout
  • Visible Learning & Transparency: supervised, yet private breakout spaces
  • Commons: multi-purpose gathering and collaboration spaces
  • STEM/STEAM Adjacencies: i.e. makerspace near Art/Math/Science
  • Varied Performance Venues: different sizes, lecture halls, little theater
  • Wayfinding: welcoming, ease of navigability
  • Community Access: sectioned off spaces that can be used after hours
  • Outdoor connections: dining, learning, community spaces

The next scheduled community forum will take place on April 4th from 7-9pm at Arlington Town Hall.   This community forum will include an update from HMFH Architects on potential building concepts.

Upcoming Events

Recent News

Welcome Back Students!

As the new school year gets underway, the following resources will help students, parents and community members access the high school during Phase 3 construction.

Arlington is victim of cybercrime

A Message from Jeff Thielman, Chair of the AHS Building Committee  Arlington Town Manager Jim Feeney announced today that the Town of Arlington and the AHS Building Project were recently victims of cybercrime. I would like to thank Mr. Feeney and the Town for their...

Phase 3 Schedule Update

Phase 3 construction of the new high school is currently underway. This phase includes construction of the Athletic wing with a 16,000 square foot gymnasium and two alternate Physical Education spaces, a Black Box theater for performing arts classes and an outdoor...

Virtual Tour of Phase 2 Spaces

Phase 2 of the new high school opened to students in November 2023. Principal Matthew Janger gives a virtual tour of the Phase 2 spaces including the Student Center, Library, Cafeteria, Forum Stairs and Humanities wing. AHS Phase 2 Virtual Tour - January 2024 from...

Phase 2 is Open!

The new Humanities wing and Student Center opened on November 8. Additional parts of Phase 2 include the district administration offices and Menotomy Preschool (which will open to students in early 2024). Communication: Press Release Superintendent's Update Message...

Blog: Phase 3 Preview

Phase 3 construction of the new high school began immediately after the opening of Phase 2 and is anticipated to be complete by February 2025. During this last phase of construction, the athletics wing, outdoor amphitheater, and black box theater will be built. Read...

Connect with us

Sign up to receive updates