Perspectives September 15, 2025

Creating Community Anchors: Public Programming in Our Schools

By Brooke Trivas, Patrick Cunningham, and Vital Albuquerque

School cafeteria atrium with students walking and studying, featuring large windows and wooden accents.

A sense of trust and familiarity makes schools uniquely positioned to serve broader community needs during evenings, weekends, summers, and even in times of crisis.

Public schools are often a community’s most significant public investment, and with thoughtful planning, they can deliver both tangible and intangible benefits. The right approach can result in spaces that foster a strong sense of belonging, uplift the broader community, and transform the perception of a place to become a source of shared tradition, generational gathering, and emotional connection. Beyond its educational mission, a school can serve as a community hub by offering services that may be lacking elsewhere.

As schools feature a diverse mix of spaces rarely found in other civic buildings—auditoriums, gymnasiums, cafeterias, technology labs, art studios—they can host a myriad of programs, from adult education and essential services to community meetings, performances, and athletic events, long after the final bell rings. Increasingly, schools are being asked to serve as flexible, multi-use resources for people of all ages and backgrounds. As architects, we see this as an opportunity to design buildings that go beyond their intended function, acting as pillars of civic life. When planned intentionally, schools can become vital anchors that support connection, identity, and resilience for their communities.

Intentional Engagement, Tailored Solutions

Many communities lack inclusive, affordable, and state-of-the-art spaces, particularly in under-resourced areas where access to libraries, recreation centers, multipurpose performance venues, or cultural space is limited or entirely absent. Regardless of a project’s scope or budget, several key spaces can make an immediate impact, along with critical design strategies that enhance accessibility and maximize functionality.

In three recent Massachusetts projects—Belmont Middle and High School, Billerica Memorial High School, and Salem High School—we collaborated closely with school leadership, community partners, and students to understand the diverse populations each building would serve and to identify strategies that support their unique needs and community vision.

Modern educational space with students on stairs and studying at tables, featuring open layout and natural lighting.

Civic Commons, Billerica Memorial High School

Often, needs change throughout the design process in surprising ways. Authentic, repeated engagement is essential to ensure that the final design reflects local values, priorities, and opportunities for connection.

Modern library interior with students studying on blue furniture, large wooden panels, and bookshelves lining the hallway.

Library and Media Commons, Belmont Middle and High School

Students collaborating in a modern makerspace with tools and equipment for hands-on STEM learning and innovation.

Makerspace STEM Classroom, Billerica Memorial High School

By integrating creativity, skill-building, and public programming, these spaces elevate both educational and civic engagement.

Modern school hallway with students relaxing, colorful wall murals, and large windows for natural light.

Entry Art Display Zone, Belmont Middle and High School

By integrating creativity, skill-building, and public programming, these spaces elevate both educational and civic engagement.

Art classroom entrance featuring student artwork display and passing students.

Art Hallway with Transparency into Classrooms, Belmont Middle and High School

By integrating creativity, skill-building, and public programming, these spaces elevate both educational and civic engagement.

Arts, Media, and CTE Spaces

Arts and career-technical education (CTE) spaces create bridges between students and professionals in their fields of study. When designed for visibility and accessibility, these environments invite public involvement while showcasing student creativity and innovation.

Belmont’s entry corridor features dedicated display zones for student artwork, and the school recently hosted a districtwide exhibition featuring artists from across all grade levels. In a new media lab, Belmont Media will co-locate with the high school, sharing equipment and space with teachers and after-school clubs, bringing a previously inaccessible civic resource into the heart of the school.

CTE spaces offer opportunities for workforce development and community learning. With the right programming and partnerships, they can support mentorship, internships, adult education, and public-facing services. At Salem High School, CTE programs will be put on display and integrated into classroom learning.

Key design considerations:

Visibility and proximity to public zones: Encourages interaction between students and community members.
Industry-grade infrastructure: Equips students with real-world tools and supports flexible, lifelong learning opportunities.
Durability for heavy use: Industrial-grade equipment and finishes mitigate degradation in these heavily used spaces.

Gymnasiums and Cafeterias

School gyms and cafeterias often host major community events—from pep rallies and fundraisers to college fairs and graduations.

Billerica Memorial High School now hosts graduation on campus, a long-time community aspiration. The gymnasium also accommodates the annual Alumni Banquet, Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and financial literacy programs led by local banks. At Belmont, the cafeteria plays a central role in International Night, a celebration of cultural heritage featuring food, music, and storytelling from families across the district.

These spaces also offer vital support during emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Belmont’s cafeteria operated as a regional response hub, providing 1.5 million meals to residents in need.

Key design considerations:

Scalability and adaptability: These spaces can accommodate high volumes of people and can be quickly reconfigured for warming and cooling centers, food distribution, or other emergency uses.
Civic identity: Graphics, materials, and storytelling elements reinforce school and town pride, creating a sense of place for students and visitors alike.

Billerica Memorial High School's thoughtful design has energized the community, inspiring active participation in events from our annual International Night, which celebrates the rich cultural tapestry of our community, to the regional N.E.R.D. FIRST Robotics competition, where students' STEM excellence is showcased to peers across the region.

Tom Murphy, Principal, Billerica Memorial High School

Indoor gym with basketball courts filled with students practicing under high ceilings and bright lighting.

Gymnasium, Billerica Memorial High School

Modern student cafeteria area with tables and seating, large windows, and upper-level walkways with people studying.

Cafeteria, Belmont Middle and High School

In both everyday programming and times of crisis, these high-capacity spaces can serve as reliable civic infrastructure, enhancing connection, visibility, and resilience.

Athletic Facilities

Athletic spaces can be powerful community wellness drivers by offering opportunities for physical activity, team building, and inclusive recreation across generations.

In Billerica, outdoor athletic fields are used for youth summer camps and local law enforcement training. Belmont’s Field House hosts evening leagues for basketball, volleyball, and indoor soccer. It also serves as the central facility for a licensed summer camp that serves 1,200 children. The on-site pool is open for public swim hours, supports the town’s youth swim team, and hosts regional meets in partnership with the recreation department.

Key design considerations:

Access and zoning: Separate access points and secure zones allow community use without opening the entire school.
Infrastructure for extended use: Exterior lighting, restrooms, shaded areas, and storage to accommodate events and off-hours programming.

Students playing soccer on a green field in front of a modern red-brick school building under a clear blue sky.

Athletic Fields, Billerica Memorial High School

Athletic facilities strengthen relationships across age groups, supporting both student athletes and adult users in a shared civic environment.

Indoor school swimming pool with lane dividers and swimmers practicing under bright lighting.

Indoor Pool, Belmont Middle and High School

Athletic facilities strengthen relationships across age groups, supporting both student athletes and adult users in a shared civic environment.

Wide view of a concert hall with an orchestra on stage, showcasing modern architecture and ample seating.

Auditorium, Belmont Middle and High School

By supporting both everyday instruction and large-scale public events, these spaces foster pride, visibility, and a lasting connection between the school and the broader community.

Blackbox theater space with musicians rehearsing with amps and instruments under bright lights.

Blackbox Theater, Belmont Middle and High School

By supporting both everyday instruction and large-scale public events, these spaces foster pride, visibility, and a lasting connection between the school and the broader community.

Modern auditorium interior with wooden seats and stage, people rehearsing.

Auditorium, Billerica Memorial High School

By supporting both everyday instruction and large-scale public events, these spaces foster pride, visibility, and a lasting connection between the school and the broader community.

Auditoriums

The performing arts serve as powerful unifiers, and well-equipped auditoriums are essential in supporting these programs. They provide high-quality, high-capacity seating for a wide range of events and gatherings. Often, they are the only spaces available in a community outfitted with professional theatrical lighting, rigging systems, fly lofts, catwalks, large projection screens, and an orchestra pit.

At Belmont Middle and High School, a new auditorium was designed not only to host student performances, lectures, and film screenings, but also to serve as a civic hub—accommodating town meetings, Human Rights Commission forums, and community-wide events such as the annual MLK Breakfast. Belmont’s annual Band-O-Rama brings together musicians from various grade levels in a vibrant talent showcase. The school’s Broadway Night and Rock of Ages performances draw large and diverse audiences, including caregivers, community members, alumni, and local musicians.

At Billerica Memorial High School, upgraded technical systems have significantly expanded the school’s programming capabilities. The new auditorium frequently sells out, accommodating up to 3,500 attendees per show, while a black box theater hosts intimate events such as senior dinners, debate club, robotics competitions, and summer productions.

Key design considerations:

Flexibility: Professional-grade performance systems and adaptable staging accommodate a variety of uses.
Capacity: Spaces are sized to serve both larger and smaller groups for school or community use.
Adjacency and access: Lobbies, kitchens, and cafeterias are strategically located to support pre- and post-event functions. Dedicated entrances and clear wayfinding separate these spaces from general academic spaces to facilitate efficient and safe after-hours use.

Belmont’s new Middle and High School is a true community hub, thoughtfully designed to support a wide range of events and programs—from Town Meetings and art showcases to summer camps and public swim—making it a vibrant space that brings residents of all ages together. With state-of-the-art facilities like the field house, auditorium, and media center in constant use, the building proudly reflects Belmont’s deep commitment to civic life, the arts, and lifelong learning.

Bill Lovallo, Belmont Middle & High School Building Committee Chair

Outdoor Environments

Outdoor spaces—including trails, tracks, courts, gardens, and outdoor classrooms offer low-barrier daily opportunities for student and community connection and encourage healthy lifestyles. In Belmont, a pond edge is now an active amenity for the town, complete with a multimodal path for walking, jogging, and biking that connects to public trails. In Billerica, outdoor areas host events such as Senior Movie Night and community gatherings led by the police department, including Take Back the Night.

Key design considerations:

Durability and ease of maintenance: Ensures longevity and safety across a range of users and weather conditions.
Landscape integration: Existing natural features can become signature elements that connect school grounds to the larger community fabric.

Modern university building with students walking on a path, surrounded by green lawn and clear blue sky.

Outdoor Lawn, Billerica Memorial High School

These outdoor environments invite neighbors in, serving as daily reminders that the school belongs to everyone.

Aerial view of a modern campus with solar panels, sports fields, and a scenic lake surrounded by lush greenery.

Clay Pit Pond Path, Belmont Middle and High School

Planning for Long-Term Value

When designed with intention, schools can become community anchors that support lifelong engagement, civic identity, and essential services. But to achieve this, design is just the beginning. True success requires a comprehensive approach that includes long-term operational planning, flexible scheduling, proactive maintenance, and clear communication about the building’s capabilities.

As projects arise, we always ask: What role can this building play in strengthening the fabric of public life? And how can we design spaces that serve community members well beyond their time as students?

Belmont and Billerica’s new facilities demonstrate that the full potential of a school building often reveals itself after occupancy. The more we collaborate with facilities teams, educators, and local partners during early design phases, the more prepared the school can be to activate its spaces from day one. Those lessons are already shaping our work in Salem and other institutions in the region.

Creating Community Anchors: Public Programming in Our Schools

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