After almost two years as a construction zone, Natick’s Kennedy Middle School has at last opened its double doors for the business of educating students. The brand-new, $81 million, 183,250-square-foot building on Mill Street stands ready to do its job for full-time in-person education when public health protocols allow, but gets to ease its way into use for starters.
The newly opened 180K+ square-foot building is designed to accommodate up to 1,000 5th-8th grade students. The academic core and arts wing of the building is complete. The last major step: the new gym, to be built once the old school is razed.
Principal Andrew Zitoli is all about looking ahead. Gesturing out the window to the old Kennedy, which still stands for now, he said, “The old school will be torn down pretty soon. Once that’s done, the new gym can be built. Right now contractors are making their way through the punch list, and that’ll take a little while. Maybe into the summer.”
Come September, it’s hoped that the punch list will be down for the count, and students and staff will return to a fully in-person educational model.
Principal Zitoli took us on a tour of the school. Here’s what we saw:
A typical classroom. Tables are on wheels for maximum classroom layout flexibility. All classrooms have interactive white boards. The school can accommodate up to 1,000 students in its 30 classrooms and 8 science rooms.
The auditorium will be used for theater performances, concerts, presentations and public events.
The aquaponics lab includes a living wall, kept green and watered through an integrated water delivery system.
Living wall, hallway of Kennedy Middle School.
Hydroponics lab, Kennedy Middle School.
One of two cafeterias in the school. There is plenty of natural light throughout the building.
An atrium area.
The library.
The front office.
The planetarium. Take that Museum of Science!
Green rooftop. Solar panels will be added to a different part of the school’s roof, and there will be a solar canopy area in the parking lot.
The old Kennedy Middle School awaits its fate. The building opened in 1965 and was originally designed to accommodate 550 students. Once the old middle school is demolished, construction will begin on the new gym. In addition, parking will be added, and a multi-purpose artificial turf field.
Kennedy Middle School, with Brown Elementary School beyond. The project team for the new school was made up of Ai3 Architects, Brait Builders, and Compass Project Management.
Well done Natick! Beautiful outside, forward thinking inside. Tax dollars well spent. Kudos to all who made this happen