Maria Hastings Elementary School

The old Maria Hastings Elementary School was housed in a 1955 building with systems that were all past their useful life. The challenge for the new school was to create a small school feel with an emphasis on 21st Century Learning, PBL, STEM, and inclusion, despite accommodating an increased enrollment (30%). Professional learning communities are central to the school’s collaborative culture, and a spirit of inclusive community is the core of the school’s culture. The district-wide ILP program was another important consideration of the design. Recognized by the Massachusetts School Building Authority as a Model School, the 110,000 SF building features a flexible and adaptable design based on time-proven educational design standards while being compact, clearly organized, and easily navigated.

The new, all-electric, net zero energy building serving 645 students was constructed within feet of the old building, which was then demolished. The state-of-the-art facility incorporates sustainable technology into its systems, most notably through a geothermal system that aids in its heating a cooling, in addition to PVs. The building has been certified as LEED Gold, and in 2023 was named one of three finalists for Green Building of the Year during the Massachusetts Built Environment + Green Building Showcase. The building far exceeds its original sustainability goals through a rooftop solar array and parking lot solar canopies, ground source heat pumps, and on-site electrical storage batteries combined with below estimated consumption, therefore it operates net positive energy by 37%.