Project File: Preserving older schools
Extensive rehabilitation of East Boston High School, Boston, along with a compatible addition, creates a learning environment suited for the 21st century.
New educational facilities were designed for this 208,000-square-foot high school, including an 18,000-square-foot addition. The addition provides a new gymnasium with bleachers, offices, locker rooms with showers, faculty dining area and a school kitchen. New travel and tourism, visual and communication arts classrooms, library/media center, science laboratories, music/dance room and cafeteria are created within the existing building.
The rehabilitation of the 1926 structure retained and restored many of the original construction materials: the terrazzo floors and glazed brick in the corridors; the oak wood cabinets, slate blackboards and natural wood floors in classrooms; brass fixtures, marble wall panels and carved plaster decoration in the main entry; wood paneling and wood seats in the auditorium; and the red brick and beige limestone exterior.
The renovation of the original building also included new engineering systems, technology network and seismic upgrade, accessibility and site improvements.
Architect for the project is Cole and Goyette (Cambridge, Mass.).