Updates On the Gibbs Middle School Project

ARLINGTON—The Town of Arlington released an update on the Gibbs Middle School Project that highlights developments. The project, expected to be completed in Fall 2018, allows the conversion of the Gibbs building into a sixth grade school to lessen the overcrowding of Ottoson Middle School.

The Town partnered wth Finegold Alexander Architects to complete the re-design last winter. Construction began in July, and includes Shawmut Design and Construction as site manager. The summer focus for the construction team is interior demolishment, according to the Town.

Current Construction Activities include:
• Site mobilization is in progress. Delivery of site trailers is complete.
• Installation of Temporary construction electrical power
• Demolition of existing pathways and curbing.
• Installation of tree protection
• Interior Abatement and Demolition is ongoing.
• Demolition of the existing curtainwall at the Foster Street entrance.
• Removal of existing windows, which will be replaced with cost and
energy saving windows.
• Abatement and removal of existing machinary from the existing boiler

The 69,000-square-foot Gibbs building was originally built as a school in 1928. It was renovated and a new addition was added in 1973. The school was de-commissioned about 25 years ago due to a decrease in enrollment, and since then has been leased to non-profit organizations, including the Lesley Ellis School.

In the past 10 to 15 years, Arlington has seen significant population growth. In 2015, the Town voted to take back the Gibbs Building to create a standalone 6th Grade Middle School for 500 students to assist Ottoson.

“The design will include a renovated main entrance on the Foster Street side to create a warm, safe and inviting approach to the school. The main goal of the renovation is to create flexible classrooms, as well as breakout collaborative spaces in the corridors. The media center will be reconfigured to create an environment conducive to 21st century learning. “We are editing out, rather than adding to the building,” said Tony Hsiao, a principal at Finegold.

You can read through the design plans here.

Photo from Finegold Alexander Architects