New Future-Ready High School Opens in Billerica

State-of-the-Art Learning

The design of the new school supports Billerica’s diverse and forward-looking educational program through a flexible planning and design approach. Highly specialized areas—like the auditorium and STEAM spaces—are complemented by agile classrooms and informal learning areas that can be easily modified to meet different user needs.

“We wanted to equip Billerica’s students, teachers, and administrators with a space that will support evolving educational models well into the future,” says Brooke Trivas, principal at Perkins&Will. “Flexible classrooms and interdisciplinary spaces allow students to develop skills like communication and collaboration, while providing teachers and administrators the freedom to grow and expand their teaching styles.”

The high school serves more than 1,600 students in grades 8-12 and houses a 200-student Pre-K program. Academic programs offered here include nationally recognized robotics teams, an award-winning drama department, and a business and entrepreneurship club that competes internationally. The school also accommodates district administrative offices.

“As the academic sector continues to evolve and cater to the needs of today’s educators and students, it’s been an honor to lend our expertise in this space and help Billerica’s vision come to life,” says Kevin Sullivan, vice president at Shawmut.

Building Design and Craftsmanship

The new school building reflects Billerica’s heritage as a New England mill town while contributing a forward-thinking architecture and materiality to its surroundings. Traditional red brick is reimagined with intricate, geometric corbeling, creating a dynamic exterior façade. Inside the main atrium, a lattice of wood adds warmth to the building’s largest space and provides acoustic control, all while recalling the timber structures of many historic town buildings.

“At every scale, we used simple, honest materials—wood, brick, steel—in thoughtful, inventive compositions. In that way, we marry the architectural grammar with the community’s story,” says Patrick Cunningham, designer at Perkins&Will.

“Ultimately, this is a building that will endure—from the architecture and materiality to the future-ready educational program,” says Brooke Trivas. “We’re honored to be part of a project that will make such a lasting impact on the entire Town of Billerica.”

About Perkins&Will

Perkins&Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. Guided by its core values—design excellence, diversity and inclusion, research, resilience, social purpose, sustainability, and well-being—the firm is committed to designing a better, more beautiful world. Fast Company named Perkins&Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture, and industry rankings consistently place Perkins&Will among the world’s top design practices. With an international team of more than 2,700 professionals, the firm has over 20 studios worldwide, providing services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Partners include Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen; retail strategy and design consultancy Portland; sustainable transportation planning consultancy Nelson\Nygaard; and luxury hospitality design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.

About Shawmut Design and Construction

Shawmut Design and Construction is a $1.4 billion national construction management firm with a reputation for completing extremely complex and logistically challenging projects for the most high-profile clients in the industry. As an ESOP (employee-owned) company, Shawmut has created a culture of ownership, proactive solution-making, and forward thinking. Eighty percent of its business comes from repeat clients, proving there is a strong focus on building lasting partnerships.  Shawmut’s unique business model allows project teams to better service clients by focusing their specialized expertise within one of the following areas: Academic, Tenant Interiors, Cultural & Historic, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Hotel, Luxury Homes, Restaurant, Retail, and Sports Venues. Shawmut has offices located in Boston, Providence, New York, Miami, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.shawmut.com.

About LEFTFIELD

LEFTFIELD is a Boston based Owner’s Project Management firm.  Where many might see the phrase “out in left field” as eccentric or odd, it signals exactly what’s needed in this industry − a truly unique and highly effective approach to complex project management. Since its inception 12 years ago, the firm’s concentration has centered around both public and private projects, most of which are technical and logistically challenging.  LEFTFIELD has built a strong reputation on the ability to understand the needs and vision of each client. As project managers, they deftly balance the competing interests of budget, schedule, and quality to ensure the owner’s project has the best project outcome.  LEFTFIELD offers a variety of services including Owner Representation, Program Management, Site Representation, Construction Administration, Audit Services, Cost Management, and Reporting and MEP Expertise.  For more information, please visit www.leftfieldpm.com.