Author: Caroline Dolan

HMFH Implements Healthy Material Initiative at Bristol-Plymouth

Posted on by Caroline Dolan

HMFH Implements
Healthy Material Initiative at Bristol-Plymouth

In collaboration with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), HMFH is developing a new standard for healthy materials in K-12 public schools. Currently in design, the new Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School will serve as the pilot project for this program.

A healthy interior environment is foundational to a child’s education—by the time a student graduates high school, they will have spent more than 15,000 hours in a school, which is the second longest indoor exposure time after their home.¹ Therefore, it is essential that educational facilities provide the healthiest possible environments to support student wellness, growth, and development. A key piece of this is understanding the impact of building materials on health and well-being.

Research by Harvard University shows that chemicals often found in building materials have been linked to health conditions including cancer, immune suppression, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and thyroid diseases.² Currently, product manufacturers are not required to disclose the chemical makeup of their products, making it incredibly difficult to make informed design decisions regarding the safety of building materials. In the same way that nutrition labels for food enable us to make healthy choices about our diet, complete material transparency allows designers and owners to understand the implications of different building materials and select accordingly.

Standards for material transparency do exist, and a primary goal of HMFH’s research for Bristol-Plymouth is to identify and specify materials that are proven to be safe by fully disclosing ingredient and manufacturing information through Declare. Declare is a platform for manufacturers to provide essential information on the material makeup of their products and compliance with standards such as the Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List and LBC Watch List, which outline materials, chemicals, and elements harmful to human health and the environment.³

A product’s compliance with the LBC Red List is represented on the Declare label by the product’s Declaration Status, of which there are three:

  • LBC RED LIST FREE products disclose 100% of ingredients present at or above 100 ppm (0.01%) in the final product and do not contain any Red List chemicals.
  • LBC RED LIST APPROVED products disclose a minimum of 99% of ingredients present in the final product and may contain one or more Red List chemicals, but only if covered by an established exception.
  • DECLARED products disclose 100% of ingredients present in the final product but contain one or more Red List chemicals that are not covered by an approved exception.⁴

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. The intent of this research is twofold: first, to provide a list of healthy building materials to serve as a reference point for future projects, and second, to push manufacturers to disclose the chemical makeup of their materials and ultimately eliminate chemicals of concern present in these products.

Focusing on touch surfaces in schools, which encompass materials from furniture to door hardware, the Bristol-Plymouth team began with products commonly used in K-12 architecture to confirm they are not harmful. The research has shown many of these commonly specified products to be healthy, but for those that are not, HMFH’s designers investigated non-toxic equivalent products that meet the same standards for function, durability, and accessibility, which is crucial in public school designs. The materials and manufacturers vetted through this research will be used to develop a comprehensive list of touch surface materials that targets LBC Red List Free products and Declared products where Red List Free is not feasible.

The project’s state-funded budget and public construction laws pose additional challenges to this process. Under these laws, the team is required to provide three equal products for every product specified, which increases the amount of healthy material options that must be provided while budget constraints limit the field of not-toxic products available. Despite these challenges, HMFH’s research will provide a list of healthy products that can easily be implemented in K-12 school designs where the budget allows and can also be used to initiate change among material manufacturers and increase awareness surrounding harmful chemicals in building materials. Some examples of safer substitutes for typical products found in public schools include:

Lockers: High-density plastic lockers can replace painted metal lockers to eliminate their toxic coating

Whiteboards: Glass whiteboards provide a non-toxic alternative to typical painted steel whiteboards, which have a toxic coating

Shades: Fabric window shades are a healthier alternative polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

As the pilot project for healthy material research, Bristol-Plymouth will be a model for healthy schools in Massachusetts. The purpose of this research is to establish initial product standards for MSBA-funded schools, with an ultimate goal of eliminating chemicals of concern from school building materials to ensure that all students across the State have access to healthy interior environments.

Read more about this exciting initiative in a feature from the Boston Globe.

Sources:

  1. Schools for Health
  2. Harvard University | School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)
  3. International Living Future Institute
  4. International Living Future Institute

HMFH Bus Tour 2022

Posted on by Caroline Dolan

HMFH Bus Tour 2022

HMFHers embarked on our 2022 bus tour, excited to experience the inspiring design work of our colleagues first-hand! This year we visited Chapman Middle School in Weymouth, MA, and Phase I of Arlington High School in Arlington, MA, which has been open to students since February while construction on the subsequent phases continues just 20 feet away.

Chapman Middle School

The new Chapman Middle School, which will open to students this coming fall, is the largest middle school in Massachusetts and supports a unique curriculum centered around exploratory labs that act as a feeder for the high school’s career technical programs. HMFHers James Liebman, Sara Rosenthal and Matt LaRue led a comprehensive a tour showcasing the school’s exciting new spaces including the Town Square, a central dining area shaped by the volumes of the school’s exploratory labs; the new auditorium, which will support Weymouth’s robust theater arts program; and neighborhood collaborative areas that serve as shared, flexible space for learning outside of the classroom.

Arlington High School

Our next stop was to visit Phase I of the new Arlington High School. Arlington team members Stephanie MacNeil and Alan Pemstein led tours of the new STEAM and performing arts wings, highlighting prominent features including an expansive lobby with bold graphic signage, light-filled classrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, and a multi-story lightwell that draws natural light deep within the footprint of the STEAM wing. While students enjoy the state-of-the-art new spaces in the STEAM and performing arts wings, construction continues on the remaining phases, which include the central spine, cafeteria, library, courtyard, and athletics wing.

Design Thinking Bootcamp

Posted on by Caroline Dolan

Design Thinking Bootcamp

As a part of a weeklong exploration of careers in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, students from Boston Public Schools joined HMFH over February Break for an introduction to architecture and design thinking.

Great design is achieved through close collaboration between a diverse group of critical thinkers, and at HMFH, we are committed to advancing the profession by making it more accessible. Through community outreach and mentorship opportunities, we continually strive to inspire a passion for design in the next generation of architects.

Made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Boston Private Industry Council, Boston Society for Architecture, Finegold Alexander, Goody Clancy, and Sasaki, Design Thinking Bootcamp brings awareness and valuable insight into architecture as a career pathway by offering a comprehensive understanding of the design profession that includes programming and sustainability; concept design and model building; design development and interior design; and construction and documentation.

For our third year participating in Design Thinking Bootcamp, HMFH took BPS high school students through in-depth presentations of current HMFH projects including Fales Elementary School and Chapman Middle School to reveal all that goes into designing a school building, from detailed drawing sets to coordination with consultants and engagement with stakeholders.

The latter portion of the session was an interactive activity where students had the chance to work on a design project of their own. Tasked with designing a workspace, the activity encouraged students to think creatively and consider a variety of design elements such as materiality, function, use, and aesthetic. Using an array of mediums from sketching to collaging, each student produced impressive workspace designs.

Saugus Middle High School Achieves LEED Platinum Certification

Posted on by Caroline Dolan

Saugus Middle High School Achieves LEED Platinum Certification

Saugus Middle High School is the first project publicly funded through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to reach the highest level of LEED certification. This significant milestone is a product of a holistic approach to sustainability that considers how each design decision will culminate in a facility that truly serves its environment and occupants.

Water Conservation

Three 30,000-gallon underground cisterns collect water for reuse while rain gardens throughout the school’s parking lots filter stormwater runoff from the site and mitigate heat island effects. Together with the use of low-flow fixtures, these measures reduce the building’s annual water consumption by 45 percent.

Air Quality and Ventilation

Located less than 300 feet from a busy six-lane highway, the new facility responds to the challenge of providing optimal air quality with rooftop mechanical air handling units positioned with their intakes facing away from the highway and prevailing winds. This enables displacement ventilation systems to distribute clean air throughout the interior, bringing 20 percent more fresh air into the spaces at low velocity without the typical costs and acoustical distractions associated with conventional mechanical systems.

Equity

The new school represents a transformation of Saugus Public Schools to reflect the town’s vision for innovative, equitable facilities. Creating a welcoming, accessible and inclusive environment for all was critical to the success of the design. All-gender toilet facilities are conveniently located and used by faculty and students alike. Special education spaces feature tunable LED fixtures, giving teachers flexibility to adjust light intensity and color temperature to help modulate behavior and respond to light sensitivity. A special classroom on the third floor provides a designated space for medically fragile community members with exceptional views and access to a rooftop classroom.

Energy Efficiency

Saugus Middle High School uses a combined heating and power system known as tri-generation. Generating electricity on-site significantly reduces operational carbon emissions and eliminates emissions associated with regional source generation, while utilizing waste heat for space heating, domestic hot water heating and space cooling. Continuously running generators improve resiliency by ensuring emergency systems will be operational when they are needed most.

HMFH Endows New Scholarship Program

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HMFH Endows New Scholarship Program

Press Release

HMFH Architects and Boston Architectural College Announce New Scholarship Fostering Diversity in Design

Cambridge, MA – HMFH Architects, in partnership with the Boston Architectural College (BAC), today
announced the establishment of the HMFH Scholarship Fund, created to expand academic opportunities
for students underrepresented in the architecture and design professions. This new Scholarship aims to
increase access to these professions for Black, Indigenous, people of color, first-generation college
students, students with disabilities, and other underrepresented populations. Creation of the Scholarship
continues a decades-long relationship between HMFH and the BAC.

“HMFH’s extraordinarily generous gift is a visible and inspiring message that will lead the way in
furthering the BAC’s mission of diversifying the design professions and making design education
accessible to all people,” said Dr. Mahesh Daas, Boston Architectural College President. “This generous
investment, which continues HMFH’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, will create
sustainable and vital opportunities for underrepresented students.”

The Scholarship selection process will begin this spring, and the first recipients will be announced in the
fall. The intent of the Scholarship is to advance diversity by providing critical financial support to
encourage students not only to enroll in architecture studies, but also to achieve success in college and
to graduate. Beyond their classroom experience, recipients will have opportunities to work on planning
and design projects with HMFH team members.

“With this HMFH Scholarship, we are taking concrete steps to increase access to design education for
minority students and thereby increase diversity within the architecture profession,” said Pip Lewis, AIA,
HMFH Principal. “We knew as soon as the idea arose that partnering with the BAC was the ideal pathway
to fulfill our aspiration for the Scholarship’s impact, while solidifying our longstanding relationship with
the College.” HMFH President Lori Cowles, herself a graduate of the BAC, notes that “This Scholarship is a
significant effort to bring greater equity and diversity to our profession, as we have been doing in our
own practice.”

HMFH Architects is a design firm known for its community-based approach, user-centric design, and
healthy, sustainable buildings. A certified Women-Owned Business, HMFH designs for public school
districts, independent schools, universities, and community and public-realm clients.
The Boston Architectural College is a recognized institution with a diverse student population
representing 35 countries. Providing excellence in practice-integrated design education, the BAC offers
bachelor and graduate degrees in architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, design
studies as well as offering continuing education certificates and courses. The BAC upholds the
importance of inclusive admission, diversity, innovation, dedicated faculty, and the intrinsic value of
both academic and experiential education.

“I am deeply grateful for HMFH’s partnership with the BAC in recognition of our longstanding commitment to diversifying the design field. The establishment of the HMFH Scholarship will serve to advance our shared vision of a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world for generations to come.”

Mahesh Daas | President, Boston Architectural College

Bristol Aggie Natural History Museum: Progressing Through Local Ecology

Posted on by Caroline Dolan

Bristol Aggie Natural History Museum: Progressing Through Local Ecology

Housed in the new Center for Science and the Environment, Bristol Aggie’s Natural History Museum showcases student-curated exhibits and an extensive collection of native New England flora and fauna.

Designed with highly visible building systems and exposed structural elements, Bristol Aggie’s new Center for Science and the Environment functions as a teaching tool and fosters hands-on, experiential learning. Within the CSE is a state-of-the-art museum space, which fully embraces Bristol Aggie’s hands-on learning approach by allowing students to curate the exhibits on display.

For the past 25 years, Bristol Aggie’s Natural History Museum has been an important piece of the campus and curriculum. However, previously siloed in an 18th century barn, the museum was cut off from the heart of campus and separate from the greenhouse where Natural Resource Management students worked intensively with the collections. This left NRM students without essential resources needed to perform their lab work. It was important that the design of the new museum not only address these concerns but create an exciting environment on par with the caliber of the collections it showcases.

The design of the new museum addresses aspects such as ease of use, visibility on campus, and user experience. Located on the first floor of the CSE’s southern wing, the museum occupies a corridor; the linear architecture of the space guides students through the collection in a natural progression, making the museum easily accessible and understandable. Treating the space as a hallway gallery also encourages students who are not involved in the NRM program to regularly engage with the exhibits as they travel through the CSE. A neutral color palette and warm wood tones reflect the identity of a school rooted in nature and agriculture and allow the exhibits to be the focal point of the space.

“Having our new museum right here, with all of our facilities in one location will allow for easier logistics, for maintaining all of this, and for having the museum available to all of the students every day, because this is also a hallway… Whatever our students do in a particular day is visible to the entire school community.”

Brian Bastarache | NRM Program Director, Bristol Aggie

Adjacent to the exhibits are adaptable labs for students to engage in project work and curate exhibits. The proximity and flexibility of the lab spaces are a much-needed upgrade from the singular isolated lab students were previously working in. The design of the museum puts academics on display, using glass walls to create uninterrupted views into the lab spaces and showcase the exciting, hands-on project work happening inside.

Massachusetts’ First Net-Positive Energy Public School Opens

Posted on by Caroline Dolan

Massachusetts’ First Net-Positive Energy Public School Opens

Article

The town of Westborough, Mass., opened the 70,242-sf Annie E. Fales Elementary School, which is the state’s first net-positive energy public school.

The two-story building replaces the original school—also named after a beloved school teacher who spent most of her 50-year career in Westborough—that’s on the same premises and which closed its doors after the town determined that new construction was a better option than trying to upgrade and remodel a 58-year-old building for a growing local population.

HMFH Architects designed the new school, which accommodates 400 kindergarten-through-3rd grade students, with five classrooms per grade plus one float classroom. It was built by Gilbane Building Company. The project cost was $56.8 million, of which $45 million was for construction.

This all-electric school consumes less than two-thirds of the energy used by a comparable code-compliant building. Its sustainable features include triple-glazed windows, roof and wall insulation that’s 40 percent above code requirements, 40 660-ft-deep geothermal close-loop wells, a 25,000-sf 508-kW solar PV array that’s integrated into the exterior architecture, LED lighting, high-efficiency mechanical systems designed to improve air quality, and a building management system that monitors and controls the mechanicals and lighting.

The ground-floor public spaces—including the cafeteria, gym, and administrative offices—are built into the hillside to reduce heat loss and gain through exterior walls. The second-floor teaching spaces have a north-south orientation that allows for windows and skylights to provide natural light and views to the outdoors.

An ambitious CO2 reduction goal

The school is expected to generate 10 percent more energy than it uses, which the town will return to the electric grid. Westborough has set a goal to be carbon emissions free by 2035. The town’s environmental stewardship “encouraged the design and construction management team to aim high and go beyond a net-zero energy goal and create a school that will inspire other communities to do the same,” said Julia Nugent, AIA, Principal and Project Leader with HMFH Architects.

The school, which is shooting for LEED Gold and LEED Zero certifications, is a learning tool itself, with exhibits and visuals to educate students and visitors about the natural environment and sustainable practices.

The Vertex Companies was the town’s project manager for the new school, which is the second K-12 school that Gilbane has constructed for Westborough, the first being a 110,000-sf Sarah Gibbons Middle School, completed in 2017.

Architectural Graphics: Enhancing the Educational Experience

Posted on by Caroline Dolan

Architectural Graphics:
Enhancing the Educational Experience

Whether spanning from floor to ceiling in multi-story public atriums or situated along a central corridor, bold and dynamic custom-made graphics have become a signature of HMFH schools, helping to connect students to their academics, the natural environment, and their surrounding community.

Designing facilities that inspire a passion for learning is the core of our practice and, understanding that learning styles are not one-size-fits-all, the learning environments we create cultivate an immersive experience for students where all architectural elements culminate in a space that engages intellectual curiosity and prioritizes student wellbeing. Our in-house, custom-made graphics play a central role in what sets an HMFH school apart from others. Tailored to reflect the unique identity, culture and educational values of each client, these graphics support the student experience by transforming the space with bold colors and dynamic compositions that engage young minds.

Fales Elementary School

In this elementary school setting, our graphics take on a new life as whimsical, storybook-style art pieces designed to create a warm and playful environment for young K-3 students. Inspired by the school’s surrounding landscape, academic spaces at Fales are organized into four different zones, each represented by a different ecosystem–forest, meadow, marshland, and pond–and a corresponding color palette.

Depicted in these large-scale wall graphics, the four ecosystems each feature the beloved Fales mascot, Annie the Hedgehog. Students can follow her adventures through the various landscapes as she interacts with different native creatures along the way. Situated in the project area of each academic zone, as well as along the main cafeteria wall, these graphics work to captivate the student’s imaginations while familiarizing them with their own natural environment. They strengthen students’ connection with nature and in doing so, promote environmental stewardship.

Bristol County Agricultural High School

At Bristol Aggie–a unique agricultural high school that promotes a hands-on, exploratory approach to learning–the entire campus is designed to function as a teaching tool for its students. Custom-made graphics support this vision by illustrating scientific concepts from Bristol Aggie’s curriculum and breaking them down in a way that is easily understandable and visually compelling.

Mounted on walls, windows and stairwells, the graphics are present all throughout the Bristol Aggie campus, putting science and sustainability on display while strengthening the school culture. Whether illustrating the complex process of the fast and slow carbon cycles, breaking down the different components of a vegetative roof garden, or comparing the makeup of plant and animal cells, academics are informally reinforced enabling students to gain a deeper understanding on their own terms.

Saugus Middle High School

The new combined Middle High School celebrates Saugus’ history and culture with original wall graphics honoring some of the town’s iconic landmarks, industries, and people. Vibrant colors are interwoven with historic imagery and illustrated elements to create compelling compositions that visually communicate the story of Saugus and help students appreciate the richness of their community.

As students move through three academic pods with distinct identities, they encounter some of these dynamic, multi-story supergraphics along monumental lightwells, depicting Saugus’ pioneering industries in ice, iron and lobstering. The graphics establish a unique identity for each pod that fosters a sense of belonging among students and assists in wayfinding throughout the large complex.

HMFH Presents at Massachusetts Historic Preservation Conference

Posted on by Caroline Dolan

HMFH Presents at Massachusetts Historic Preservation Conference

With extensive knowledge and experience with sustainable design and renovations, HMFHers Gary Brock and Peter Rust shared a designer’s perspective on the economic, environmental and social benefits of historic preservation and how to make adaptive reuse a feasible option for design projects.

The Massachusetts Historic Preservation Conference is a biennial, statewide event where professionals and local advocates interested in preservation share preservation successes, challenges and lessons learned. Alongside Cambridge Historical Commission Executive Director Charles Sullivan, HMFH presented a case study of the recently completed Renae’s Place, providing valuable insight into the process of restoring a historic structure while making it more resilient and energy efficient for optimal performance and community benefit.

A small project with a large impact, Renae’s Place was originally an 1885 residence in Cambridge, Massachusetts that had fallen into disrepair through decades of commercial use. The renovation and addition transformed the property from its underutilized state into 10 units of emergency housing, while successfully achieving seemingly disparate goals: restoring the building’s original historic character, designing for climate resiliency, and creating a safe environment for vulnerable populations.

Pictured below (left) is HMFH’s renovation of Renae’s Place, as well as the building pre-renovation (bottom right) and a historic image of the building from Massachusetts Avenue (top right).

Exploratory Labs: Paving the Way for Experiential Learning

Posted on by Caroline Dolan

Exploratory Labs: Paving the Way for Experiential Learning

In support of Weymouth’s mission to engage and empower students through interdisciplinary, project-based learning, the educational program for the new Chapman Middle School is centered around unique “exploratories”—introductory classes to elective tracks that focus on modern, STEAM-driven paths in career technical education.

Located at the threshold between the school’s academic wings and central hub for student activity, the exploratory labs bridge the transition from shared public space to academic zones. The labs are housed within three distinct tower-like, top-lit structures, or pods, that utilize their unique and expressive architectural forms to represent the flexible and collaborative nature of the interior program spaces. Each positioned at the entrance to one of the three academic wings extending off the cafeteria, the exploratory labs shape the organic layout of this central space. Distinct cladding materials define a unique identity for each space: a metal pod, a wood pod, and a glass pod.

Culinary Lab

Chapman Middle School’s culinary lab occupies the first floor of the metal pod and provides a unique opportunity for students to incorporate cooking, cultural awareness, and nutrition in their curriculum at the middle school level. The spacious layout of the lab positions a teaching room for lecture-based learning adjacent to cooking stations for hands-on lessons.

Notable features:

  • Flexible classroom furniture for lecture-based lessons on culinary practices, world food cultures and healthy nutrition
  • Universally designed cooking stations used for hands-on lessons include 4-burner stoves, convection ovens, char broilers and microwaves
  • Mobile teaching demonstration station with cooktop induction units
  • Large openings to convenient transportation of materials
  • Solid surface counters and washable walls and ceilings for simplified maintenance
Expeditionary Learning Lab

Located directly above the culinary lab, the expeditionary learning lab provides a flexible learning space geared towards self-directed, collaborative and project-based activities. Varied seating and table types can be re-arranged to outfit the space for a wide range of lessons from presentations, to class discussions, to small group projects.

Notable features:

  • Designated presentation space and teaching wall with large LCD monitor
  • Small group collaboration spaces with individual touch screen monitors
  • Flexible and varied furniture for a variety of hands-on activities including research, writing, reading, math and science
Theater Arts Classroom

To accommodate Weymouth’s robust theater programs, the first floor of the wood pod provides teaching space outside of the auditorium and a black box theater for students to study, rehearse and put on small-scale performances. This flexible space is not only a valuable resource for the emerging middle school theater program, but also for the high school theater program and local drama groups. Co-locating theater arts and the broadcasting lab within the same pod enables the programs to share a control center.

Notable features:

  • An overhead tension wire grid – a fall-safe technical level space where students learn the behind-the-scenes ins and outs of theatrical lighting and rigging
  • Motorized blackout shades block any light penetrating the space for Blackbox performances and let light in during lessons and rehearsals
  • Moveable furniture in the performance room can be used for audiences, lectures or removed entirely
Broadcast Lab

The broadcast lab overlooks the theater arts space below and offers students state-of-the-art equipment and spaces to explore the technical aspects of video and audio production. The lab will also be utilized for student organizations and a large after-school program.

Notable features:

  • State-of-the-art broadcasting equipment including a soundproof control center, recording studio with green screen and mounted LED studio light fixtures
  • Windows from the control center to both the adjacent recording studio and to the theater arts space below to allow both programs to utilize the high-tech control and recording equipment
  • Ability to broadcast throughout the school or town-wide
Media Center

Chapman Middle School’s new media center, which resides on the first level of the glass pod, introduces contemporary design elements typically seen in higher education spaces without compromising the function of a traditional school library. A double-height open plan layout combined with tall openings in the frosted resin cladding establish a visual connection between the media center and the Town Square, while a variety of seating types and breakout spaces make the space fully accessible.

Notable features:

  • Flexible and varied seating conducive to a wide variety of learning styles
  • Designated spaces for casual study, small group learning, and large group meetings
  • Operable glass wall enables the meeting room to open up into the flexible learning space for larger assemblies
  • Circulation desk centrally located to monitor media center activity
  • Located near the main entrance for after-hours community use
  • Skylights and tall openings introduce daylight into this space at the heart of the school
Makerspace

Overlooking the media center below, the makerspace lab encourages collaborative, hands-on learning as students begin to explore the engineering, design and fabrication process. Centered around student discovery, the flexible makerspace accommodates a wide range of large-scale projects and fosters teamwork among students.

Notable features:

  • Robotics focused equipment
  • Flexible work benches with durable tabletops for a wide variety of projects
  • Spray paint booth, vent booth for soldering, 3D printers, a plotter and laser cutter
  • A built-in storage wall for student projects, raw materials, parts, and kits