West Springfield High School

Overview

In the fall of 2010 SMMA was selected to design the second of its model high schools based upon the national award winning Hudson High school. The 257,500 sq. ft. 1,340 student school will feature eight neighborhood clusters on four levels centered around large group instruction spaces and serving three academic centers of excellence – Humanities, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), Fine and performing arts as well as a Freshman Academy named the Terrier House. Large group instruction spaces are one and two story flexible teaching labs that allow for cross disciplinary instruction, project based learning programs, and multi-media instruction as well as student and team governance. Built on the slope of an 80 foot hill behind the existing high school the new state-of-the-art green school is a daylit, welcoming community resource that will include an elevated exercise track, 2,500 sq. ft. multi-purpose athletic and dance space, natatorium with 50 meter pool, a 700 seat performance theater, 250 seat mini-theater, and a library learning commons arranged around a student commons/cafeteria and oval entrance courtyard.

The high school will be the first new significant school for the community under Superintendent Russell Johnson’s 21st Century school initiative and allows the Town to take advantage of the State’s only model high school that features a building organized for the complex and evolving student/learner focused education anticipated by the education reform act.

The school is scheduled to open in January 2014.