Swampscott Senior Center and High SchoolSwampscott, MassachusettsPresented By: Philip J. Poinelli, AIA, LEED APSeptember 27, 2009

The Results Are In:Mixing Generations Enriches Senior & Student Life

The Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available on request.

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

Learning Objectives

• Articulate a plan for generating support for public school projects that create intergenerational, life-long learning opportunities through co-location of facilities.

• Identify elements of 21st Century school as a community learning center.

• Develop an approach for forging bonds between educators and community groups, and sharing facilities between them, while maintaining physical and fiscal autonomy for each.

Swampscott, MA• Population 14,600

• 3.05 sq miles

• 12 miles Northeast of Boston

• Settled 1629

• Incorporated 1852

• Formerly home to 5 large Victorian seaside hotels

• Number of students is roughly equal to number of senior citizens

Swampscott, MA

• 3-story, 1920’s framed house• Basement dining was the only

“accessible” space• On-street parking• Small residential-scaled rooms• Stand-alone facility• COA attempted for years to find a

new home

Former Senior Center

• Master Plan– School Committee Client– Reserved 2,000 sf for Senior Use

• Project Design– School Building Committee– Chair involved with seniors

• Community Engagement– Math, Science & Technology– Visual and Performing Arts– Life Fitness / Sports– Community Use - Seniors

Planning Process

Common Program ElementsSenior Center High SchoolComputer Training Computer Rooms

Kiln for ceramics program 2 kilns in 3D art room

Dance & fitness classes Dance room, fitness rooms

Bus to mall for walking Indoor & outdoor tracks

Music programs Piano lab, chorus & band rooms

Lectures Lecture hall

• Identity• Personal safety• Minimal collaboration with students• Parking

Senior’s Concerns

Site Plan

Senior Center Plan

First Floor

Second Floor

Third Floor

Seniors• Volunteer in HS Library• Teach cooking classes to HS

students• Social Studies panel

discussions on WW II and Korean War

• Men’s Club mentoring athletes

Students• Teach computer classes • Teach cell phone programming,

e-mail, digital cameras, VCR’s• Wash windows, set up tables

and chairs• Volunteer at senior dining• 5th graders adopted Senior pen-

pals

Intergenerational Activities

Indoor/Outdoor Track vs. the Mall

• Designed as a Bid (Add) Alternate• Coupled with enlarged Field House• $1M for both• Seniors and Sports Boosters rallied for TM and Referendum

Budget Issues

Senior Center

Other Savings• Shared spaces• Reduced building size

Infrastructure Sharing & AutonomyShared Services AutonomyWater Sub-metered off school

Power Power panels sub-metered

Telephone Separate lines off the system

Heating- Hot water- Ventilation- Air Conditioning

- BTU meter on the hot water supply- Separate air handling unit- DX could have a sub-electrical meter

Snow Removal By the town for both facilities

Student & Senior Center Entries

Main Entrance

Entries

Senior Spaces

Divisible Dining RoomSenior Spaces

Senior SpacesLiving Room

Priceless

Keys to Success• Early Programming• Power of Community Advocacy• Shared Spaces + Fiscal Autonomy• Dedicated Spaces for Community Partner• Schedule Coordinator

The Results Are In!AFTER TWO YEARS OF OPERATION:

Click the hot link below to access a U-Tube video including recent interviews with seniors, students, teachers and town officials involved in the planning process.

CBS story on the Swampscott High School and Senior Centerwww.youtube.com/watch?v=m95u_1DQDUs

• Early Childhood Centers – Wellesley, Hudson, Quincy High Schools

• Youth activities and camps, adult education/community college, early childhood – Nantucket Community School

• Native American Center – Mashpee High School

Intergenerational/ Community Opportunities

Mixing Generations: New high School Facilities Senior/Student Life, Philip J. Poinelli, AIA, CEFPI – Educational Facility Planner, Vol 43, Issue 1

Schools as Centers of Communities: A Citizens Guide to Planning and Design, National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, KnowledgeWorks Foundation, 2003

Catching the Age Wave: Building Schools with Senior Citizens in Mind, Kevin J. Sullivan, National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, October 2002

Schools for Successful Communities: An Element of Smart Growth, CEFPI, September 2004

The Development of Educational Facilities Through Joint Use Mechanisms, New Schools, Better Neighborhoods, January 2000

Building Community – School Relations, Yelena Mitrofanova, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Sharing School District Facilities with Other Local Governments – Expanding Resources for Schools and Communities, Dissertation by John Joseph Thein

Breaking the Mold Of School Instruction and Organization: Innovative Practices for the Twenty-First Century, edited by Andrea Honigsfeld and Audry Cohen (December 2009)

Related Readings

Copyright Materials

This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws. Reproduction,

distribution, display and use of the presentation without written permission of the speaker is

prohibited.

© Symmes Maini & McKee Associates, Inc. 2009

This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Program

Thank You!Questions?

Cambridge, MA & Providence, RI

Philip J. Poinelli, AIA, LEED AP

e: ppoinelli@smma.comP: 617.547.5400