Issuu

KING OPEN/ CAMBRIDGE STREET UPPER

SCHOOLS & COMMUNITY

COMPLEX

a new standard for education design and high-performing buildings through the creation of a 21st-century learning lab. This new building type combines two separate schools (King Open Elementary and Cambridge Street Upper School) with a mix of diverse programs that support student learning through a vast range of social and family support services. The project carefully balances the sense of welcoming and much-needed open and community spaces, all while providing Cambridge’s youngest citizens a safe and inspiring learning environment. The result is an equitable, inclusive, and beautiful community resource.

KING OPEN SCHOOL

CAMBRIDGE STREET UPPER SCHOOL

VALENTE BRANCH LIBRARY

CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION POOL

CIVIC & COMMON ASSEMBLY SPACES

“Throughout the project, the District partnered with Arrowstreet in all aspects of the complex from feasibility and programming through design and construction. Arrowstreet’s expertise in sustainable design proved invaluable in achieving a 21st century facility that matches the environmental goals of our community.”

Jim m aloney, Coo Cambridge Publi C S C hool S

The King Open Complex’s curved massing serves as a transparent and welcoming beacon to the East Cambridge neighborhood.

Completed in August 2019, the 273,000 SF project is a beacon of both Cambridge and Arrowstreet’s ongoing commitment to creating sustainable and resilient communities. It is the first completed net zero Emissions and first LEED v4 Platinum school in Massachusetts, and only the third globally. This project has become an exemplar of design and process, not only in Cambridge but throughout the country, to achieve a net zero building.

From start to finish, the project aligned with two key initiatives within the City of Cambridge:

1. Cambridge’s Innovation Agenda, an ambitious plan to propel Cambridge Public Schools into the 21st century and prepare students for life in a world we cannot fully imagine today.

2. The pilot project for net zero Cambridge, a 25-year plan developed in response to a call from the community to move Cambridge towards a healthier, more resilient City.

As a pilot project, the City of Cambridge sees it as a tangible example to the entire Cambridge community, including institutional and private investors, of how a net zero emissions building can be designed and financed.

SITE PLANNING & DESIGN

The project site was first opened as a public park in 1896 to give the citizens of Cambridge access to fresh air and open space. In the 1960s, a school was placed on Cambridge Street that blocked the City’s connection to the recreational area beyond.

As the project team started planning the new school design and massing, it was critical the City regain its beloved green space for all ages and abilities.

Donnelly Field circa 1900. P hoto Courte S y of Cambridge h i S tori C al

“[The Citizens] are proud of the space, size, accessibility, and welcoming nature... a great example of the City’s commitment to enhancing the experience of residents when visiting our libraries.”

Dr. m aria mCCauley, d ire C tor of l ibrarie S

A Cherished Neighborhood Green:

This block has a long tradition of being a special gathering place for the neighborhood. The City, recognizing the importance of fresh air and open spaces for all, transformed the landscape and opened the park. The open space comprised of both parkland and playing fields. In winter, the fields were flooded for skating.

Visually Blocked Park:

The Library enjoyed prominence at the center of the park for over 60 years. The 1961 school and branch library replaced the existing Cambridge Field Branch Library and essentially blocked access from Cambridge Street to the playing fields.

Reconnecting the City and Park:

The 2019 King Open Complex reconnects the City and Donnelly Field with a central green spine and surrounds the new complex with green and open spaces for all.

1896 CIVIC CENTER

“The physical layout, natural lighting, net zero goal, and easy access to the outdoors all enhance the learning experience. In addition to the school day experience the campus has transformed the streetscape along Cambridge Street highlighting the exterior grounds as a place for passersby to stop and soak up the fresh air and enjoy the beautiful landscaping.”

Located in an urban yet residential-scaled neighborhood, the project’s massing and scale are organized into two halves flanking a “green spine” at the site’s center. This spine creates a direct visual and physical connection between a new crescent-shaped civic plaza along Cambridge Street and Donnelly Field. The plaza is flanked by gathering, recreational, and reflective areas, and nearly two acres of open space has replaced the former asphalt parking.

The curved form of the terracotta-clad school wing continues through the public library along the front of the East wing with its transparent and welcoming glazed facade.

The academic and community wing flank the complex’s green spine which visually and physically connects the City to its green and open spaces. Large doors at connectors are open for special community events, allowing for passage from street to park.

Jim m aloney , Coo Cambridge

Publi C S C hool S

AUDITORIUM

CPS ADMIN

VALENTE BRANCH LIBRARY

CAFETERIA & PROMENADE

CSUS CLASSROOMS

KING OPEN CLASSROOMS

AFTER SCHOOL/ COMMUNITY SCHOOLS LEARNING COMMONS

PRESCHOOL

CAMBRIDGE STREET

CIVIC PLAZA

DONNELLY FIELD

A NEW STANDARD FOR LEARNING

This facility aspires to be more than just a building; its goal is to surround students with community support to help shape future citizens’ lives. This approach to education maintains a school’s traditional role as the community center while allowing students to do their best with strong academic and social support. It reflects an outlook of respect for equity, diversity, inclusion, and the natural environment.

Occupant wellness is supported through daylighting, healthy materials, thermal comfort, and enhanced air quality and acoustics. The classroom finishes are Red List free.

Throughout the entire King Open Complex, learning spaces within the academic wing are sized to allow hands-on exploration and support collaborative and interdisciplinary teaching. Transitions between areas allow for student engagement and achievement beyond the traditional classroom. Above all, it provides a safe, comfortable, and inspiring environment to support the mind and body in the pursuit of education.

21st Century Educational Programming

The building’s twin-school design meets the ambitious client goals through its school planning, supporting each school’s current teaching pedagogy while allowing for future flexibility. Each grade level—ranging from Kindergarten to 8th Grade—is organized into classroom neighborhoods, project-based learning breakout rooms, open flexible teaming areas, student services, and faculty workrooms.

CLASSROOMS

ADMINISTRATION

FLEX SPACE

Flexible educational spaces are paramount to the success of future learners. Breakout nooks and white board partitions provide opportunities for informal learning and collaboration.

Student Support Teacher Team Room

CLASSROOM NEIGHBORHOOD

Breakout rooms are located between classrooms to allow individual and small group tutoring adjacent to the classes and group projects.

Faculty team rooms are located near each grade level set of classrooms, encouraging teachers to work together, and provide necessary resources near classrooms. The team rooms also help minimize energy usage, providing centrally located coffee, refrigerators, microwaves, and other equipment rather than having each teacher bring their own.

The district-wide autism spectrum disorder program is also integrated within the academic neighborhoods, further promoting a positive, inclusive environment.

PRESCHOOL

In addition to the elementary and middle schools, the building houses the King Open Preschool. This program, run by the Department of Human Services, provides free preschool to City residents. Space was expanded in the new building to allow for two classrooms that share a central support spine. Each classroom has access to a secure outdoor play space. The layout of the preschool has become a model for the other City-run preschools located throughout the City.

CLASSROOMS

ADMINISTRATION

OUTDOOR

The classrooms are designed around learning centers. Furnishings and windows allow for the youngest learners to have an appropriately scaled, daylit, and comfortable environment.

A Unique Identity for Two Schools

above Each school has a dedicated entryway.

far left The lobby of the Cambridge Street Upper School is designed to accommodate grades 6-8. Color-coded in a soft teal, the space features a STEAM hallway and interactive digital boards with blue accent.

left The Gallery in the Lower School is accented in bright green. The art and music rooms are located off the hallway, which turns into a light-filled gallery for the school’s creative arts program.

Housing two schools, it was imperative to provide a unique identity and culture for each. From the civic plaza along Cambridge Street, each school has a separate entrance, design approach, and color extending from outside to inside, defining each school’s unique culture. Graphic elements use inspiring quotes to reinforce each school’s mission. The Upper School grades 6-8 highlights STEAM through independent study. The Lower School—grades 1-5—creates opportunities to gather and display student projects with family and friends in the Gallery, reinforcing a sense of shared community.

Learning Commons

The Learning Commons transformed a traditional school library into a multi-purpose, multi-media learning hub with maker space, a recording studio, group learning areas, and individualized reading nooks. Technology, white boards, and bookshelves are mobile throughout so that learning can happen anywhere and can be reconfigured to meet activity needs. To address the students’ varying ages, furniture is appropriately scaled but can also be used comfortably by anyone.

The Learning Commons is a flexible and adaptable space to support students at all learning levels.

“... a new school environment that was designed just for them. The students, families, and faculty of their schools deserve every opportunity to experience the excitement that comes with intellectual discovery and this new facility offers so many new avenues for that type of exploration.”

Kenneth Salim, Superinten D ent

CLASSROOMS

OUTDOOR SPACE

FLEX SPACE

The STEAM corridor faces onto the Learning Courtyard to allow teamwork and to promote project-based learning that extends beyond classroom walls.

LEARNING COURTYARD STEAM CORRIDOR Garden

Experiential Learning Outdoor Classroom Display Zone

Performing Arts Visual Arts

STEAM Lab

Seating

Innovation Agenda and STEAM

Cambridge’s ambitious Innovation Agenda and STEAM program are at the core of their academic spaces. The science and STEAM rooms are prominently located to highlight science learning with flexible spaces and learning on display. The STEAM corridor alongside the Learning Courtyard and project-based display areas allow arts and science projects to occur beyond the classroom, energizing the entire building. The Learning Courtyard allows for flexible programming with an open lawn area, informal and formal seating areas, and a food production garden sponsored by a local non-profit, CitySprouts.

The building itself is a Learning Lab used to explain important environmental and sustainable concepts with sustainability features prominently displayed to create transparent learning opportunities.

Exterior features include façade and roofmounted solar PV panels, sunshades, bioswale bridges, and an interactive hand pump at the rain gardens. Interior features include digital dashboards in each lobby, custom educational graphics on the walls, an exposed “purple pipe” water reuse system, display areas for student projects, daylight controls, and visible heating and cooling elements.

far right The wall and sunshade-mounted Photovoltaic (PV) panels are visible to the public, and the classrooms overlook the roof-mounted panels on the community wing. A series of dashboards allow the students and staff to track the building’s energy usage and see how their grade contributes to the energy load or its savings.

School District Administration Offices

Located within the King Open Complex are new consolidated City-wide administration offices for the Superintendent, administrative staff, and curriculum planning specialists. After years of being located in ad hoc space in a former school building, Arrowstreet completed a full planning and programming analysis for their operations to relocate to the new school building. Detailed

interviews and surveys were conducted with the administrative staff members to understand the adjacency requirements and space needs for each department. Issues of public access and security were considered as part of the layout; public functions were located near the entry lobbies to facilitate visitor access and provide protection for staff members.

Arrowstreet designed each space with durability, flexibility, and occupant health in mind.

The campus is defined by a playful kaleidoscope of color, textures, and shapes to provide unique spaces for kids of all ages.

1. Varying colors and patterns define each grade level, creating distinct neighborhoods for students.

2. Universal Design is incorporated throughout. Colors, patterns, and lighting are designed be sensitive to students on the autism spectrum.

3. The STEAM corridor and science labs are prominently located, putting student projects and learning on display.

4. Alternative learning nooks are designed throughout, supporting all levels of learning and group sizes.

5. The Learning Commons creatively utilizes patterns and finishes in sustainable materials to create a healthy environment for students.

6. Wellness is supported through the incorporation of healthy materials, biophilic design, enhanced thermal comfort, air quality, daylight, and acoustics.

Arrowstreet thoughtfully designed and integrated environmental graphics throughout the project to reinforce the overall design concepts.

Exterior signage uses the established color schemes of the schools, and meaningful quotes are incorporated at each entrance, introducing visitors to each school’s unique identity.

Interior wayfinding is expressed through a series of colors and patterns attributed to each floor. Oversized graphics at each stair landing reinforce this concept.

Environmental graphics throughout the schools educate students on the building’s sustainable features and how they can make environmentally conscious contributions.

COMMUNITY RESOURCE

The community was engaged in the design process continuously from feasibility through construction. Over 30 different user groups, including community, business, faculty, and students, directly influenced the types of programs and spaces in the building and the design of the site.

User Engagement Process

The project team utilized a unique engagement process that allows for direct feedback and communication with the users to create a structure that truly performs as envisioned.

Open visioning charettes were held at school events, community picnics, senior centers, and sporting events. A diverse range of engagement tools used included virtual reality, physical models, and student projects.

PLAN

The first step is to create a plan of engagement covering not only pre-design and design phases, but construction and postoccupancy. During this phase the team met with over 30 stakeholder groups.

EDUCATE

The engagement of the occupants continues once the design is in place. It is necessary to educate them with background details on net zero energy (NZE) and develop common language for discussions. This education should include a definition of NZE and an explanation for why NZE is important for both the project and the global community.

KNOW, ASK, LISTEN

Occupants for this project include teachers, students, staff, administrators, and public users of the pool, library, and community programs. Things we needed to understand about the occupants included how they do their jobs, what equipment they use, and what they were looking for in the new space.

Having met with occupants the team informed them on what was learned and what the design implications might be. One of the main things heard was the school must foster collaboration among staff. To meet this vision, we designed small clusters of classrooms with a single staff room that provides a kitchenette and is easily accessible for all staff within that cluster.

Occupants wanted to be able to use the building during school hours, nights, weekends, and summers, which uses a lot of energy. Using their feedback, the project team split the building into two wings with separate air handling units for each area, reducing energy and planning for future flexibility. This solution resulted in almost 14% energy savings.

Engagement did not stop after design. The team worked with staff and students during and after construction to create training and operation tools for post-occupancy.

The main library space is a large open area. This creates a dynamic, beautiful, and daylit environment. The furnishings, both in style and color, distinguish zones for children and teens, create scale, and welcome users.

Community feedback helped define the project’s programming. The result blends two schools with community programs into a single complex, including outdoor resources such as a reading garden, bocce court, five playgrounds, a swimming pool, civic plaza, and interior spaces like the public library, auditorium, cafeteria, and gymnasiums. The massing allows the community spaces to be available for after-hours and weekend use.

“It was important to us that the school be open, bright, and viewed as an accessible partner to the wider community.... and will invigorate us to think more creatively and collaboratively with caregivers about how to make this school a home away from home—a community center where you will want to be.”

m anuel Fernan D ez,

rin Cipal

Community amenities used by both schools during the day and the neighborhood during after school hours and weekends include a 380-seat auditorium and two full-sized gymnasiums.

A primarily glazed façade acts as a beacon for the neighborhood. The library captures balanced daylight and is transparent and inviting to the pedestrians and bikers on this major thoroughfare. The large wood clad canopy tempers the daylight.

The City of Cambridge branch library, known as the Valente Branch Library, is the most public element of the King Open Complex. Designed to serve both the adjacent schools and the greater Cambridge neighborhood, the 10,000 SF library provides spaces for individuals of all ages and families “all under one roof.”

The connection to the schools and other community amenities is vital to the building’s success as a community complex. The placement of the second entry allows students and the community to enter directly from

the King Open Complex. Materials were selected to provide a warm and inviting space. The Valente Branch Library has tutor rooms, quiet study, and a program/ community room. These new programs have enabled the library to double its programming attendance in the first months of opening.

The variety of amenities ensures that the King Open Complex has a space for everyone. By housing the parking in an underground garage and prioritizing open space, the team achieved close to an acre increase of green space and almost two acres of open space overall.

f ar right: A reading garden was a beloved feature of the 1961 Valente Branch Library and has been reimagined for the new design while respecting the original intent.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, & SOCIAL JUSTICE

The project’s fundamental design intent is to provide a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment for young people and the surrounding underserved neighborhood. The design encapsulates this mission through its organization, enhanced interior environment, and community resources.

The King Open Complex supports the entire community’s needs, from job skills and ESL classes in the public library to community theater in the auditorium.

left The community wing is designed for universal access and provides neighborhood services including acting as a polling station during elections, and a safe and secure COVID-19 testing site.

“From an equity perspective, every[one] should be able to get what they need—and the building is designed to do just that...[it] allows us to truly live out our values and commitment to social justice—and our responsibility to our community and the environment.”

Darrell WilliamS , p rin Cipal

The project also addresses the economic inequality and financial vulnerability defined in the Cambridge Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. The building offers community resources during periods of high heat expected to increase in the coming years, including access to cooling resources with two swimming pools, a splash pad, shade tree areas, an air-conditioned library, and other community spaces.

The building’s varied program means many things to many people—a school, daycare, public library, pools, school district administration, and community center. Investing in a project that serves so broad a range of the community’s needs reflects respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion. The branch library and pools are prominently placed to send a strong signal to all to engage in their community resource and claim it as their own.

left The CitySprouts garden immediately outside from the cafeteria reinforces the farmto-table concept.

far left The mobile suspended under the skylight is a commissioned artwork inspired by the King Open School and a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

In a large building with multiple users, the design team balanced a sense of welcome for the entire community while still providing a safe space for their youngest citizens.

Throughout the King Open Complex the City supports the needs of residents while also celebrating their history and culture. Doubling the preschool’s usable square footage enables 20 more children a safe and educational space. The school drop off was designed so whether a student arrives by bus, car, bike, or foot, all will feel comfortable and safe. The King Open Complex provides classes for ESL and job skills, free lunch pickup, free flu shot clinics, and in 2020, COVID-19 testing. The auditorium is used by cultural and religious groups for free or reduced fees.

For the academic wing, the educational programming was thoughtfully designed to promote inclusion among the students and faculty with:

• Classrooms and support spaces for the City-wide Autism Spectrum Disorder Program are integrated within core grade-level neighborhoods.

• The Upper and Lower School circulation is separate so that older students do not overwhelm younger students.

• Cultural identity is celebrated through project work and displays.

• Gender-neutral bathrooms are a district first.

• The cafeteria seats more students to allow for extended lunch periods, eliminating a previous economic and social injustice for students with free and reduced lunch programs. The space is bright and airy, with various seating to encourage healthy food habits and inspire joy in eating.

SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCE

The King Open/Cambridge Street Upper Schools sets a new standard for school design and high-performing buildings through the creation of a 21st-century learning lab. This project is a model for public and private buildings within the City of Cambridge, which strives to achieve City-wide net zero emissions (NZE) by 2040. It is one of the largest, most programmatically diverse NZE buildings in the country. In addition to its energy achievements, the project meets high sustainable design levels in ecology and water.

The Learning Courtyard is flanked by solar PV panels. Within the courtyard, students grow their own vegetables and explore bioswales.

FACADE-MOUNTED PV

RAINWATER HARVESTING

The project was the pilot for the City of Cambridge's Net Zero Action Plan, requiring the project to be net zero emissions, a low energy all-electric building whose energy use is offset through renewable energy. NZE is achieved by a highly efficient envelope, advanced building systems, and a photovoltaic (PV) array covering 74,070 SF of the roof. The on-site PV array provides at least 60% on-site power generation with the balance supplied by purchasing green power.

ROOF-MOUNTED PV

INCREASED VEGETATION & NATIVE PLANTS SOLAR THERMAL

HEATING & COOLING

The City also performed a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the entire City with predicted models for the next 100 years based on different risk scenarios. The assessment results indicated that the site is in an area that is susceptible to minor flooding, extreme heat, power loss, and residents who are subject to financial vulnerability to address climate change.

25 pEUI

72% energy reduction over Architecture 2030 baseline

190 geothermal wells

1,300 MWh PV

Building mechanical systems are ground source heat pumps supplying radiant heating and cooling and displacement ventilation with demand control CO2 sensors, providing improved thermal comfort, acoustics, and air quality. Other energy efficiency features include R-28 walls, R-40 roofs, dedicated outdoor air systems, daylight controls, LED lighting, and point-of-use hot water. Renewable energy is generated by roof, façade, sunshademounted PV, and solar thermal hot water, which serves the kitchen and radiant heating loop.

100% water reduction

The King Open Complex is designed to perform at an ultra-low energy use intensity (EUI) of 25, even with heavy daily and year-round use. This is achieved using several unique planning and user engagement strategies in addition to building and energy efficiency systems.

DESIGN

MEP SYSTEMS

MEASUREMENT & VERIFICATION

OCCUPANT ENGAGEMENT

RENEWABLE

Approximately 1.319 MWh of electricity are generated onsite by a 74,070 SF PV array

The building includes metering that allows for continuous real-time data collection of energy usage for heating, cooling, lighting, process loads, plug loads, water usage, and PV energy generation. Lighting and plug loads are metered down to the grade level. This data is being used by maintenance staff to calibrate, operate, and maintain the systems and by teachers for learning exercises to support problem-solving and critical thinking learning. Digital dashboards in each lobby inform occupants and the public of the building performance and provide comprehensive information about the sustainability features.

The King Open Complex is the first net zero emissions and LEED v4 Platinum school in Massachusetts; certified in February of 2021, it became only the third LEED v4 Platinum school in the world.

CONNECTION TO DONNELLY FIELD

OPEN SPACE FACING WILLOW STREET

RELOCATION OF POOL TO CONNECT WITH DONNELLY FIELD AND SOUTHERN EXPOSURE

OPEN SPACE FACING CAMBRIDGE STREET

RECONSTRUCTION OF LIBRARY READING GARDEN FACING CAMBRIDGE AND BERKSHIRE STREETS

Landscape Design

The integration of the landscape was integral to the user experience. Perennial beds and trees weave through the site and building, allowing occupants to experience nature in various ways. Plants were selected to infill and adapt with relatively little maintenance. Beds were also strategically sited to avoid inadvertent desire lines—allowing the new plants the opportunity to establish. To minimize water use, irrigation is exclusively provided to plant beds that lie within the building’s rain

shadow or the high-use central courtyard. The design expands the level of biodiversity on the site, pushing to show the range of species capable of succeeding in an urban condition. The landscape plan introduces 147 new trees to the site, including 24 individual species, to increase on-site biodiversity. Eighteen distinct species of shrubs and 38 species of perennials were also introduced. The landscape design also includes a series of bioswales and storm retention tanks to manage stormwater runoff.

Designing for Water

The project site is located towards the top end of the watershed. Runoff from this site ultimately discharges to a combined sewer (CS) system connected to an MWRA-owned treatment plant. The CS overflows to the Charles River during large rain events. It was essential to control runoff from the site to reduce the runoff that discharges into the combined sewer system and minimize CSO’s to the river. The project captures water from the majority of the new building roofs in a 30,000-gallon underground tank. It reuses that rainwater for irrigation and toilet flushing, reducing potable water use for non-potable needs by 100%. Overflow from the 30,000-gallon tank is directed to an underground infiltration system that further controls runoff rates to meet the City of Cambridge stormwater requirements, which are quite robust. A separate, underground infiltration system manages stormwater from other site areas not regulated by the 30,000-gallon tank or infiltration system. This system includes small bio-retentions strategically placed around the project site that provide treatment and a new closed drainage system connected to the surrounding roadways’ municipal collection systems.

An interactive hand pump located within the raingardens.

This graphic explains how the displacement ventilation system, the panel which the arrows emerge from, works to provide good air quality.

WELLNESS

Students and faculty spend a lot of time in school, so they deserve a healthy environment to learn and teach. The building is designed to support wellness as an essential part of childhood development. It acknowledges the degree to which the indoor environment can directly impact the ability to learn.

The indoor climate, Universal Design, safety, and social equity are all crucial components of childhood development supported by this building. All materials inside the building were evaluated for their impact on health, and Red List Free materials were incorporated wherever possible. The facility provides an abundance of natural light, connecting to nature through biophilic design, and providing thermal and acoustic comfort. Physical activity is encouraged through five distinct play spaces, reading gardens, and reflection spaces to support physical and emotional wellness.

The City Sprouts garden and cafeteria dining promote healthy eating and a celebration of mealtime.

The building is net zero emissions, meaning there is no fossil fuel combustion causing emissions on-site, providing a cleaner air quality within and outside the building. Indoor air quality is further enhanced with the use of the displacement ventilation system. This also means the school can remain more safely open during potential health crises.

The classroom is designed to allow ample daylight without glare. The HVAC system provides fresh air while maintaining thermal comfort and good acoustics.

above The building itself is a learning lab with sustainability features on view to aid in transparent learning opportunities. Interactive touchscreen dashboards display realtime energy and water data and sustainable features of the building. left Upper School classroom.

also provided through interactive touchscreen dashboards within each lobby (and through a computer or mobile device) so students and the public can explore the building’s performance and overall project sustainability features. Teachers are utilizing this data for learning exercises in classes to support problem-solving and critical thinking learning.

PROJECT SAFETY & SECURITY

The site’s massing provides separate entry and exit points for both the community and students. Based on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, as students and their families approach the King Open and Cambridge Street Upper Schools, they are greeted with clearly defined signage and floor-toceiling glazing with transparency into the administrative offices. The Upper School entry point with views to the street. Automatic shades drop to cover the glass if lockdown

above The complex provides multiple exit points with clearly defined signage in case of emergencies.

left Terraced landscape in front of the public library.

There are multiple exit points throughout the building that can provide swift evacuation if needed. Since the site is urban, the project incorporates simple barrier security measures often unnoticed by the public:

• Low shrub and natural boulder landscaping with adjacent public benches.

• Setback expanded sidewalks with concrete seat walls.

• Accessible grade changes to protect from extreme vehicular approach.

Safety and security extends to the building’s interior where the shared corridors feature expansive, open spaces for improved visibility and access. In the classroom wings, glazing is designed at the L-shaped classrooms balancing the need for open sightlines for supervision and providing refuge areas. In the hallways, quiet spaces provide varied, flexible, breakout opportunities for students through color, furniture, and orientation. In addition to the classroom, these bonus spaces are utilized by students as extended learning environments. The selection of colors and patterns for these spaces was chosen through the lens of students to provide visual interest and a sense of joy beyond

left Flexible learning space in open area still provides sense of place.

right The Upper School grade neighborhood with vision glass from each classroom.

a classroom setting. The counseling offices are located out of the school administration area and integrated into the student community to encourage relationship-building. The loading and delivery area is located on an adjacent street from the school’s main entrance with its own visual security and access.

In the balance of designing both a secure and welcoming school environment, the City, architects, and community have successfully created a facility that celebrates and welcomes the community while also ensuring that kids have a safe place to learn and thrive.

oW ner City of Cambridge

lo C ation

Size

850 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02141

273,000 SF (entire complex)

230,000 SF (school spaces)

t imeline 2014–2019

Co S t

$130,000,000

lee D C erti F i C ation LEED v4 Schools Platinum

ARCHITECT

William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. in association with Arrowstreet, Inc.

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER W.T. Rich/KBE Joint Venture

MEP/FP ENGINEER Garcia, Galuska & DeSousa, Inc.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER LeMessurier Consultants, Inc.

CIVIL ENGINEER Nitsch Engineering

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Copley Wolff Design Group

A COUSTICS & AV Acentech

F OOD S ERVICES Crabtree McGrath Associates

P OOL D ESIGN

Aquatic Design Group

FF&E Point Line Space

S PECIFICATIONS Kalin Associates

E NERG y/ NET z ERO In Posse

LEED

L IGHTING

T RAFFIC

CODE

Soden Sustainability Consulting

HLB Lighting Design

VHB

R.W. Sullivan Engineering

COST E STIMATING VJ Associates

G EOTECHNICAL

COMMISSIONING

P HOTOGRAPH y

CDM Smith

Stephen Turner Inc.

Robert Benson Photography, Horne Visual Media, Anthony Crisafulli Photography, Arrowstreet Inc., and William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.