Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School
The design of the new Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School integrates traditional academics with modern career technical education (CTE) programs in a forward-looking educational model.
Taunton, MA
420,000 sf
9 – 12
1,434
19 CTE programs
Tracking LEED Gold
29 kBTU/sf/yr
The layout centers on an expansive courtyard and hub of shared public spaces, including an auditorium, cafeteria, and media center. Now under construction, the high school will accommodate 1,434 students in state-of-the-art shops and labs for 19 CTE programs when it opens in the Spring of 2026.
Plan sketch highlighting indoor-outdoor connections
Career Clusters
Career technical education spaces are grouped in program-based clusters to create small learning communities that foster collaboration and share resources. Each cluster includes specialized facilities for skill-based learning and traditional classrooms for lecture-based instruction. For example, programs such as Robotics & Engineering Technology and CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) comprise a Manufacturing & Engineering cluster with technology resources and computer labs, while Automotive Technology, Carpentry, and Electrical Technology occupy double-height shop areas with garage door openings to accommodate their large-scale, hands-on projects. Project areas are interspersed with academic classrooms throughout the school to support Bristol-Plymouth’s vision of an integrated educational environment that promotes diverse learning.
“This new facility will be a source of pride for our community and a valuable resource for generations to come.”
Alexandre Magalhaes | Superintendent, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School
Healthy Materials
Bristol-Plymouth is the pilot project for healthy material research initiative in collaboration with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, with the goal of establishing product standards for MSBA-funded schools to eliminate chemicals of concern from school building materials. Drawing from over 50 years of experience designing K-12 public schools, HMFH is researching and vetting hundreds of materials to develop a baseline list of products that contribute to a healthy learning environment and are optimized for K-12 architecture.
Public-Facing Design
From the exterior, the new school communicates Bristol-Plymouth’s mission to its students, faculty, and visitors. Public-facing programs such as Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Graphic Design, and Early Childhood Education are located along the south-facing façade, with adjacent visitor parking, clear signage, and bold graphics to promote their services to the greater community. Academic and CTE spaces are differentiated in the exterior architectural language with brick cladding denoting academic zones and career technical spaces expressed using more transparency.
