Project narrative: As the first state-funded public school in Massachusetts to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the responsive design of Saugus Middle High School embodies a community-wide commitment to forward-thinking, equitable education and holistic environmental sustainability. Divided into three smaller learning communities to ensure each student feels a sense of belonging and social-emotional health, all students have access to state-of-the-art spaces that support a robust, STEAM-driven curriculum. Sustainable solutions are woven into the design, which harnesses daylight in multi-story lightwells, generates energy on-site, conserves and reuses water, and integrates healthy materials in a facility that inspires discovery and learning.
Project location: Saugus, Massachusetts
Firm name: HMFH Architects, Inc.
Completion: 2020
Project type: K-12 School
Project information: New construction
Size: 271,00 sf
Certifications: LEED Platinum
Client: Town of Saugus
Jury comments: The holistic approach to sustainability and inclusion, including effective use of break-out spaces daylit from above, was deserving of an Honor Award recognition for the Saugus Middle High School. There is clear, forward-thinking, educational visioning from a wide variety of perspectives. The community engagement process succeeds in restoring the district’s educational reputation to one that inspires an immense amount of pride for a STEAM-driven education, while supporting students’ social emotional well-being.
Images/Photographer(s): Robert Benson; AerialPhoto123
