Quincy High School

Overview

Typical of many Eastern Massachusetts cities with roots in the 19th century, the City of Quincy is land poor with respect to its public building sites. The existing high school, constructed in 1924, and its vocational education wing constructed in 1965, occupy a tight 18 acre site close to Quincy center. Almost 50% of the site is protected wetlands and off-limits for development.M

To bring the school physically and programmatically into the 21st century, SMMA will implement a well-coordinated combination of educational programming, building design, and construction sequencing.

Planned for a total of 1,500 students and a floor area of 368,000 sf, Phase I will see the construction of a new science and technology wing temporarily linked to the rear of the existing high school and replacing the existing vocational wing which has become unsuitable for career education in a post-industrial economy. All educational programs can be maintained during successive construction phases.

Following demolition of the vocational wing, Phase II calls for the construction of the major components of the school: its academic and administrative spaces, auditorium, gymnasium, and cafeteria. These latter three spaces are grouped together at the new main entrance of the school for convenient use by the community.

Next, the gymnasium will be demolished and replaced by athletic fields and parking. In the final Phase, the original high school will be un-linked from the new wing and, will be renovated to provide a new home for the Quincy Public Schools’ administration.

All four phases of the project are expected to be completed within 40 months and with minimum disruption to the school and the community.