The work to construct a building that reflects our community’s values and creates an environment where all learners can thrive continues. Over the coming months, we’ll follow the project through the Schematic Design phase. This is the part of the project where the details are determined and the concepts we've discussed start to become increasingly real.  

Members of the project team at the recent SPS Back-To-School Fair and Somerville Civic Day talking with residents and students about the new school building project.

This month's newsletter:

• MSBA Process Update
• Project Team at City Neighborhood Connect Meetings
• Zoom-in: Trees

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at newschool@somervillema.gov. 

PSR Review at the MSBA October Board Meeting

In case you missed it, in late August, following votes of approval of both the School Building Committee and School Committee—as well as the endorsement of Mayor Wilson and Superintendent Carmona—design option #4 (seen below) was submitted to the state as the City’s preferred design option.  

The preferred option for the new school building project at 115 Sycamore Street. For a more detailed overview of the option watch the August 3 School Building Committee Meeting.

This preference was conveyed in the City’s Preferred Schematic Design submission to the state, which will be taken up for potential approval at the Massachusetts School Building Authority's October Board of Directors meeting.

For more detailed assessment and discussion of this option (and other options that were considered), check out recent meetings of the School Building Committee and to see the full Preferred Schematic Report and other project documents use the link below.

The City’s project team attended the City’s Neighborhood Connect Meetings for Ward 4, Ward 5, and Ward 3 to talk with residents about the project--answering questions and listening to people’s feedback and priorities.  

The team will also be at upcoming meeting for Ward 6.  

• Ward 6 – Thursday, October 15, 6 p.m. at Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Avenue 

Come eat pizza and share your thoughts on the project.  

The required analysis involves not only identifying which trees (and their root structures) are within areas of required excavation but also looking at how to keep the trees we are able to maintain healthy throughout the construction process.  

As for new trees (and other plantings) the project’s landscape architects will develop a plan for future plantings in consultation with the City’s Urban Forestry Division. As design advances, we will share more information on these plans.