Acton-Boxborough Regional High School

Acton, Massachusetts

Firm

Design Partnership of Cambridge

Client

Acton-Boxborough Regional School District

Area

326,626 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$40,168,552

Completion Date

12/2004

The architect helped Acton-Boxborough Regional School District overcome one of the greatest problems facing older, large high schools: reconfiguring an existing school to meet contemporary educational standards, while simultaneously providing the culturally desirable values of a small-school environment within a large school.
The renovation and expansion plan addressed these issues. Components of the solution include several primary strategies that address reorganization of learning space and creation of new space, clarified circulation to reinforce the intelligibility of the building and the notion of “educational precincts,” and the creation/reclamation of spaces that encourage student groupings in the context of an open campus, reinforcing the sense of neighborhoods within the building.
Additions for a new math/science wing and a new main entrance also were provided. Other improvements include an updated kitchen and food court-style cafeteria, a relocated and expanded media center, new art classrooms, new computer facilities, life-safety and accessibility upgrades, renovated athletic facilities and new administration and counseling suites.