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Harriman outlines AMS renovation to bring sixth grade into Auburn Middle School, targets 2028 opening
Summary
Harriman presented schematic plans to convert Auburn Middle School to a 6–8 model, proposing modest additions, classroom reconfigurations, ADA restroom upgrades, a secure vestibule, and kitchen and arts renovations; the design team will complete cost estimates and bid documents in 2027 with construction estimated at 16 months and a goal of readiness for the 2028 school year.
Mark Lee of Harriman presented an update on the Auburn Middle School (AMS) renovation during the Nov. 19 Auburn School Committee meeting, saying the project aims to move sixth grade into a 6–8 middle-school model and to modernize safety and instructional spaces.
The proposal centers on using underused space and modest building additions to create teaming classrooms, new science rooms and a STEM suite, a secure vestibule at a primary entrance, an art room with a kiln, renovated special-education suites and conference space, permanent acoustic separation for music and theater, and an upgraded kitchen and servery to handle added capacity. "What is this and what is it going to cost," Lee said, describing the next step to convert schematic plans into biddable documents and precise cost estimates.
Why it matters: the committee heard that a 6–8 configuration aligns sixth graders’ developmental and programmatic needs with seventh and eighth grades and can smooth transitions from elementary school. The design team emphasized safety and ADA compliance as priorities alongside learning-environment goals.
Key scope details discussed include:
- Classroom and circulation changes to create teaming groups for sixth grade, with a small lower-level addition for classrooms and two additional second-level classrooms.
- A secure vestibule at a main entrance to allow administrative screening of visitors before admitting them into the building.
- Renovation and relocation of a STEM room, conversion of locker-room shower space into an art room with a kiln and storage, and creation of improved special-education office and conference spaces.
- Multi-user toilet-room renovations in three locations to address ADA dimensional requirements.
- Kitchen upgrades including new exhaust hoods and a new cooler/freezer panel to improve servery flow and accommodate more students during lunch.
Schedule and next steps: Lee said the project is in schematic design and the team is preparing sufficient detail for a cost estimator. The presentation identified roughly nine months to develop the phasing plan and bid documents; the team is contemplating a 16‑month construction period. If the schedule holds, bid documents would be prepared in 2027 and construction would proceed later in the spring toward a completion date intended to support the start of the 2028 school year. "Starting that process earlier makes it a smoother process," Lee said of moving sixth grade earlier into a middle-school setting.
Community engagement and site constraints: Harriman noted two community forums and advisory meetings have been held, with another advisory meeting planned for December. The team will study traffic impacts at Court Street with the city and AVCOG (Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments) and will coordinate with the National Park Service regarding potential recreation-easement impacts.
Questions from the committee focused on cost-per-student comparisons and renovation efficiency. Lee cautioned that renovations have many variables and are not directly comparable to new construction, but described the proposed renovation as an efficient approach to accommodate a roughly 50% increase in middle-school student capacity within the existing campus configuration. The team said it will provide cost comparisons and refined estimates as designs are finalized.
The committee did not vote on the schematic plans; next steps are to refine scope, complete the cost estimate, and return with more detailed figures and phased construction plans.
