Major Howard W. Beal School

Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

Firm

Lamoureux Pagano Associates Architects

Client

Shrewsbury Public Schools

Area

142,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$73,002,085

Completion Date

07/2021

Bruce T. Martin; Shannon Power

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The new 790-student, K-4 Beal Elementary School replaced a 100-year-old facility. The district’s project- and team-based instruction is now supported with flexible classroom spaces, technology-enabled common areas, and multiple accessible outdoor spaces to learn and play.

One desire of the district was to preserve a beloved mural from the previous school that had become a cultural touchstone for the community. Through a collaborative public-private partnership, artist Peter Reynolds was commissioned to create an expansive new mural inspired by his original piece that stretches along the primary entry lobby, sloping down to the lower-level media center; the shapes of the artwork are configured to fit the space they occupy.

This defining feature serves to create a welcoming environment where students see themselves represented in the diverse children depicted in the artwork. Words featured throughout the mural came from the community and are intended to inspire and to expand vocabularies.

“Color and shape really help stimulate the mind,” said Peter Reynolds. “I wanted to create an uplifting mural and have it be colorful, diverse and full of joy.”