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RSU 51 says Carolyn F. Small School is 14 months from completion as architects explain design, codes and heat-pump system
Summary
RSU 51/MSAD 51 superintendent Jeff Porter and architects from Stephen Blatt Architects detailed progress on the new Carolyn F. Small School, describing an 11-phase campus project, a cemetery setback waiver, structural provisions for six future classrooms and an electric heat-pump system with a propane backup.
Jeff Porter, superintendent of RSU 51/MSAD 51, said the district’s new Carolyn F. Small School is about 14 months from completion during the third episode of the district’s “Hard Hat Chats.” The episode featured architect Doug of Stephen Blatt Architects and Greg Bouchard, the project’s clerk of the works, who reviewed design choices, phasing and ongoing construction work.
The project is part of a one-campus plan that also includes a new facilities building, expanded parking, a turf field and renovations at Mabel I. Wilson (MIW). "We've got the new facilities building. The old facilities building came down," Greg Bouchard said, describing site changes that include expanded utilities, stormwater work and a new parent and bus circulation layout.
Architect Doug said the team broke the campus work into 11 separate phases, with several elements started early to avoid disrupting school activities. "This one has 11 [phases], each one with its own time frame," he said, adding the maintenance building demolition and turf field work began ahead of schedule so the district would not miss a sports season.
Design and constructability drove several decisions. Doug described the team’s frequent use of digital 3-D models and BIM software to coordinate disciplines and produce working drawings for the contractor. The construction documents are large: Greg said the campus drawings total 282 sheets and the specifications run about 1,200 pages, material he said the project team uses to reduce change orders and clarify contractor responsibilities.
Site constraints required an early land purchase to fit the school footprint. "We were able to purchase another triangle of land, and that made the project work," Doug said. The team also discovered a regulatory constraint adjacent to a nearby cemetery: a state cemetery rule initially imposed a 25-foot no-dig zone near burial grounds. The project obtained a local waiver that reduced that limit to 10 feet, Doug said.
The school’s design reflects a child-centered approach: classrooms are organized in pods, first grade will occupy an upper level with kindergarten directly below, and pre-K classrooms will have their own playgrounds. Doug said the architects lowered classroom windowsills so younger children can see outside and included small-group and one-on-one rooms as flexible spaces. The structure is planned to allow adding up to six classrooms above the roofline if enrollment grows — the team designed column plates and connections so new columns can be bolted on without new foundations.
Mechanical systems will rely primarily on electrically driven heat pumps. "We're using heat pumps, which have become much more efficient recently," Doug said, noting the system is ducted central air with rooftop units; a propane boiler will serve as backup in extreme cold. He described heat pumps as moving heat rather than creating it, and said the system was selected for year-round conditioning and efficiency.
Greg described his role as the architect’s field representative: he visits the site frequently, photographs progress and provides weekly reports to the owner and design team to surface issues and keep stakeholders informed. "I take a lot of photos of progress. We report out to the owner, to the design team, to the architect team, for all the subconsultants," he said.
Doug said the team engaged teachers and staff during design development to refine classroom layouts and program needs before producing working drawings and taking the project to bid. The firm was hired more than two years ago and progressed from concept design to design development and into construction administration after the referendum.
Construction is underway on steel elements, and this summer the project will rework parent and bus drop-off and parking to improve circulation and create space for the new school, Doug said. Porter closed the episode by previewing the next installment, which will focus on steel work as the campus construction continues.
Next steps: construction continues under construction administration, with additional updates slated in future Hard Hat Chats as the project proceeds through the remaining phases.
