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District and architects show two conceptual schemes to reuse historic Reynolds School for maintenance and adult‑education space
Summary
Rowe Architects and district staff presented two conceptual plans for adaptive reuse of Reynolds School: a larger scheme with two adult‑education classrooms plus a rear industrial addition, and a smaller-footprint scheme that eliminates classrooms to increase parking and reduce cost. Board members pressed on parking, neighborhood tree preservation, and whether the site could relieve Eaton Street lease pressures for adult education.
Rowe Architects and district facilities staff presented conceptual site plans on Dec. 10 for the historic Reynolds School, proposing adaptive reuse that preserves the historic front of the building while adding a rear structure for industrial maintenance functions and potential adult-education classrooms.
Two schemes: The first concept includes a rear addition to house maintenance shop functions (welding, receiving, storage) and retains large training or classroom spaces inside the historic building that could serve adult education or other district needs. The second concept removes the adult-education classrooms to reduce new construction, shrink cost and increase parking capacity; circulation is simplified in the second scheme by replacing an interior corridor with a covered exterior walkway to shrink footprint.
Board concerns and context: Board members asked how many adult-education students the proposed classrooms would hold (architects estimated the large rooms could be subdivided into roughly four standard-size classrooms), compared the project cost versus the current Eaton Street lease (Eaton Street rent approximated at $5,000) and raised neighborhood concerns about parking, large maintenance trucks and preserving mature trees and picket‑fence street character. District staff said more detailed capacity and cost figures will be developed as the design proceeds and that a community meeting will be scheduled to solicit neighborhood input.
Flexibility and alternatives: Board members urged preserving flexibility — for example building one classroom instead of two to reduce square footage while retaining adaptability for alternate-ed, adult-ed or preschool programs — and noted that portable classrooms might be used if funding constraints require a phased approach.
Next steps: Staff will hold public outreach in the neighborhood and incorporate community feedback into schematic designs; additional cost, capacity and parking analyses will follow before a formal recommendation to the board.
