Project

Collaboration Clusters

A design transformation that promotes student participation and celebrates all learning styles

All
In Progress
Adaptive Reuse
Civic
Cultural
Development
Higher Ed
K-12

Gibbs School

Town of Arlington
Arlington, Massachusetts

Created out of the need to address a significant middle school enrollment increase for the Town of Arlington, the original 1928 Gibbs Junior High School was transformed into a future-forward learning environment. Working closely with the educational leadership, faculty, staff, community members, and parents to develop the educational program, the building was transformed into a 6th grade school that is flexible and supports current and future teaching practices. The new main entrance is warm, safe and inviting. The reconfigured interior layout features flexible, technology-rich classrooms organized into clusters of four around collaborative breakout nodes. Outfitted with technology and flexible seating, these nodes allow for smaller group learning in a supervised environment. The Media Center and Digital Media Lab are co-located to create flexible learning opportunities.

(Photo credit: Raj Das Photography)

Size
69,000 SF
Scope
Addition, Renovation
Program
Classrooms, Media Center, Digital Media Lab, Black Box Theater, Gymnasium, Outdoor learning
Sustainability
LEED Silver Certified
Awards
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In the news
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Project EUI
Students walking into the Gibbs School's new entrance on a bright day.
Students in the new entrance foyer, which features green and white walls, an existing brick wall, and a sky-light with modern circular lights.
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“We are thrilled to be able to provide a school building that was carefully designed to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of the sixth graders in Arlington, while being cost-effective and efficient.”
Kristin DeFrancisco, Gibbs School Principal

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Students gathered around re-grouped tables in the art classroom.
Students and teachers in different sitting areas of the media center, with bright daylight and blue and green colors.
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The links between a quality indoor environment on faculty, staff and student working and learning outcomes has been well established through research. In many cases, we have achieved high levels of sustainability within existing buildings such as the Gibbs School. Strategies such low mercury lighting, building product disclosures, water use reduction, enhanced commissioning and advanced energy metering all enabled the Gibbs School to achieve LEED V4 Silver, while showcasing some of its energy efficient systems throughout the building to the school population.

Modern entrance to the Gibbs School with a triangular metal overhang protruding from existing brick building.
Students in corridor and purple breakout space, with views into adjacent classroom.
Students and teachers in various flexible classroom seating arrangements in the digital media lab..
Two students observing the school's exposed mechanical systems through a window.
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“The goal was to create a welcoming environment, that would inspire students to seek opportunities for learning. The result is a flexible, engaging learning environment that is also highly energy efficient.”  
Regan Shields Ives, Principal, Finegold Alexander

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In Progress
Adaptive Reuse
Civic
Cultural
Higher Ed
K-12
Development