"Finegold Alexander, the City of Boston, and Boston Public Schools, we were all in service of children, which makes the process so powerful and impactful...Everyone working in service of children and families, it's magic."

-Traci Walker Griffith, Principal, Eliot Innovation School

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STUDENT-CENTERED DESIGN APPROACH

Collaborative

We will partner with you and your school community to bring your school to life. Together, we’ll set clear communication pathways, define key decision makers and working groups, track key milestones, and help guide the project through the approval stage.

Visioning sessions

Community input during the design process is essential to shaping a school that truly fits your needs. Through visioning sessions with students, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders, we ensure every voice is heard – from big picture concepts to detailed program adjacencies and square footage requirements.  

Educational planning principles

We will work with you and your stakeholders to develop an educational plan that weaves together curriculum, instruction, professional development, and community use within a flexible, inspiring a school built to serve generations to come. Our in-house planning and design expertise ensures that the educational goals defined at the outset guide every step of the design process.

Safety and security

Through thoughtful, strategic design, a majority of the school’s security needs can be addressed through architecture and landscape features – such as strategically placed impact-resistant glass, thoughtful floor plan layout, and door hardware. The remaining security measures are provided by electronic systems and cameras. The goal is to create a safe, functional environment that protects students and staff without feeling uninviting.

Efficiency by design

We explore every strategy to reduce energy use, from building massing and orientation, creating a compact building footprint, optimal window-to-wall ratios, daylight analysis, and occupancy sensors to reduce the demand for electric lighting. Each design option will be analyzed to make data-driven decisions that maximize reductions in energy demand and carbon emissions, as well as long-term operational costs.

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