Beverly High School

Beverly, Massachusetts

Firm

Mount Vernon Group Architects

Client

Beverly Public Schools, City of Beverly, Mass.

Area

250,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$68,000,000

Completion Date

12/2010

The Beverly High School is a high-performance school composed of a new four-story academic addition of about 160,000 square feet and renovation of about 100,000 square feet. The rooftop has an 80 kWH-rated photovoltaic system that helps exceed the requirements of the Massachusetts Energy Code.

The original Beverly High School had sprawling, undersized educational spaces; contained structural deficiencies and water-infiltration issues; and had major accessibility issues. It was prudent to demolish the classroom portions of the facility. The main core facilities were renovated, including the fieldhouse, cafeteria, auditorium and music spaces. Site enhancements include improved circulation and parking, and synthetic baseball and football fields.

The old Beverly High School, a 70s-era, single-story, modular-style facility, was transformed by the erection of a classically inspired academic edifice with clear distinctions as to primary and secondary entranceways. Additionally, the four-story academic tower elevates the building above the existing site depression, where only the roofs of the old edifice could be seen from the upper access road.