Galvin Middle School Project Feasibility Study Underway

With the project manager and architectural company chosen, work has begun on the feasibility study for the Project. The study will lay out all possible options for the future of the aging middle school to help determine if a new school should be constructed or if the current one should be renovated.

The study is expected to be completed in September, when the completed study’s findings will be presented to the the Galvin Middle School Advisory Committee, the Wakefield Permanent Building Committee, and the Wakefield School Committee, who will choose which option to pursue.

Several forums have been scheduled for next week  in order to receive public input:

• A Permanent Building Committee meeting is scheduled for August 29 at 7 p.m. at the WHS Center for Performing Arts.
• A visionary meeting is scheduled for August 31 at 12:00 p.m. at the .

School Committee Reaction
The school committee members expressed their excitement for the project and their appreciation for the efforts made by the two firms.

“You’re certainly off to a great start and we’re very enthusiastic about both of your organizations being on board,” School Committee Vice Chairman Tom Markham said. “It’s an exciting time.”

Later in the meeting, School Committee Member Anthony Guardia said that the school committee’s public relations efforts this year would be focused on informing Wakefield residents of the Galvin Middle School project’s progress.

Who's Involved
Joslin, Lesser + Associates, Inc., a project management firm, and Tappe Associates, Inc., an architecture firm, both specialize in the public building construction and have been involved in public school construction throughout Massachusetts.

Jeffrey Luxenberg, a project director with Joslin, Lesser + Associates, Inc., possesses an advanced degree in city planning and more than 30 years of experience in project management, including roles in the construction of Billerica’s Parker Elementary School and renovations of UMass Lowell’s Fox Hall while with Josling, Lesser + Associates, Inc.

Charles Hay, the principal architect on the project from Tappe Associates, Inc., has designed the Saugus Memorial Middle School and the Marlborough Middle School and others. He has also conducted numerous feasibility studies.

Both Luxenberg and Hay expressed excitement over the Galvin Middle School project.

Hay, who was just recently brought on board recently met with the Galvin Middle School staff and said he is ready for the aggressive schedule.

“We’re working away, we’re working hard,” he said, adding that the Galvin Middle School staff “has been very helpful to us -- very enthusiastic and focused on the future.”

It’s been a “good, engaged, interesting project to date,” he said.