Pard Middle School team outlines two‑phase plan, targets September 2030 turnover for phase one

The School Building Committee of the Town of Needham heard a detailed schematic presentation on March 23 from the construction manager‑at‑risk (Bond) and architect HMFH on a two‑phase plan for the Pard Middle School replacement.

Brenda Delli, project executive for the construction manager, said the team expects to mobilize in April 2028, remove the site’s modular classrooms and complete the phase‑one portion of the new building in time for a September 2030 school opening. "We're looking to mobilize and take the lower portion of the site," Delli said, describing a staged approach that keeps active school operations separated from construction zones.

The designers described the updated scheme as a two‑phase build: phase one contains the principal classroom wings, auditorium and supporting spaces; phase two is confined to a sixth‑grade academic wing. The plan swaps the gym and auditorium to improve loading and cafeteria adjacency and introduces "learning labs"—shared, open collaboration spaces—on each floor. Matt Laru, lead designer for HMFH, said the reconfiguration improves circulation and keeps high‑use spaces visible and accessible.

The team is studying two options for geothermal well placement. One locates wells in an expanded northeast parking lot (requiring regrading and some tree removal); the other places the field at Warner Field, which could simplify drilling but requires coordination on piping and park use. "We have two options that we've been studying," the design team said; a meeting with Parks, DPW and conservation was scheduled to evaluate feasibility.

Parking and circulation changes are part of the updated site plan. The northeast lot is estimated at about 75 spaces; total on‑site parking across lots is roughly 260 spaces once grading and additional rows are complete. Designers proposed a western driveway to allow buses to exit directly onto Harris Avenue, intended to reduce bus traffic through the Glenwood/Bradford neighborhood.

Committee members and school staff emphasized minimizing disruption to occupied spaces. School staff reported the existing modular classrooms are roughly 22 years old and have had repeated maintenance and alarm issues; the principal indicated the school could manage sharing classrooms temporarily but removal of the modulars is planned for summer 2028 and will compress scheduling for up to two school years.

Schedule and MSBA deadlines shaped the committee conversation. The team plans to send schematic design documents to cost estimators the week of May 12–14, reconcile Bond’s and the design team’s estimates in June, secure SBC approval and PBBC approval in mid‑June (SBC vote June 16; PBBC vote June 22), and submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority by June 25 to meet the MSBA’s August board cycle. Designers said unresolved decisions (for example, final well‑field location) will be carried as alternates or contingencies to the cost estimators.

Committee members pressed for documentation showing how public comments and abutter concerns were considered. The design team agreed to provide a summarized list of public input and how it was addressed in the updated plan. An SBC‑hosted open house was announced to allow tours and community feedback.

Next steps: the design team will refine the schematic and updated schedule, meet with parks and utilities on well‑field siting, provide a consolidated cost‑estimate package in May/June, and return to the SBC and PBBC for the June votes required for MSBA submission.