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Presenter says C2.2 would compact school layout; proposes synthetic turf field over parking
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Summary
A presenter described the C2.2 design option as a way to make the school more compact and improve circulation, and proposed a synthetic turf playing field built over a large parking area; a committee member raised concerns about student impacts and the use of modular classrooms.
A presenter outlined the C2.2 design option for the Medford Public Schools project, saying it would make the building more compact and shift circulation uphill toward Edgerly Field while adding a synthetic turf playing field placed above a large parking area to reduce visible parking and ease drop-off congestion.
The presentation matters because the layout choices affect daily student movement, construction phasing and temporary classroom needs. A committee member said community members, including their own children, are worried about how students will live and learn through the construction and about the number of modular classrooms shown in the option.
The presenter described compactness as a principal design goal. "One of the things that we're trying to do with any of these designs is find ways of making the building more compact, and easier for students to navigate," the presenter said, adding that achieving that compactness increases the number of vertical stories required to climb the hillside but that the building would step up the slope rather than present a single six-story face.
Responding to concerns about modular classrooms, the presenter said the team is studying phasing strategies that could minimize or potentially eliminate some modular units by opening portions of the existing building while placing new modular classroom space on a different footprint. The presenter cautioned that "there would still need to be potential for students to move outside between a portion of the new building and the existing building, while the rest of the construction is ongoing." The presenter also suggested reviewing classroom-use models early to reduce the overall number of classrooms required and thereby cut how many modular units are needed.
The committee member noted community support for siting that does not "stuff the whole building up on Edgerly Field," and pointed out a drawing that shows a sizable playing field with parking underneath. The presenter explained the elevated practice field is a challenging area to access in its current configuration and said using that area for part of the addition "allows us a much more open area to work with on the southern part of the site." The presenter said the option included a "synthetic turf playing field located over the top of a large parking area down below it," and argued the arrangement would both improve the arrival experience and reduce traffic bottlenecks because parking is tucked beneath the field and vehicular circulation can pass around it.
No formal motions or votes were recorded in the provided transcript; the exchanges focused on design trade-offs, construction phasing and circulation. The design team and committee will continue to evaluate C2.2 and other options, with further refinements to phasing and classroom-count assumptions expected before any decision is taken.
