Upcoming Events

Conservation Commission Meeting

May 06, 2025 – 7:00PM

 

PLEASE NOTE: Meeting will be held remote on zoom. (The Zoom Meeting Link to be posted closer to meeting date).

Click here to view the Meeting Materials. (Meeting Materials to be posted closer to meeting date)

School Building Committee Meeting

May 15, 2025 – 7:00PM

 

PLEASE NOTE: Meeting will be held in a hybrid format. (The Zoom Meeting Link to be posted closer to meeting date).

Click here to view the Meeting Materials. (Meeting Materials to be posted closer to meeting date)

Project At A Glance

In Development (Coming Soon!)

For More Detailed Information

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Progress as of February 22, 2025

Progress as of December 7, 2024

Progress as of October 6, 2024

PROJECT HISTORY

Wakefield Memorial High School (“WMHS”) was originally built as a Junior High School in 1960. In 1972, the Junior High was converted into the current WMHS through the construction of major additions to the north and south of the school. Since then, except for some relatively small improvements and modifications made toward meeting the accreditation requirements, the High School has remained virtually untouched.

In 2016 a comprehensive facilities assessment was completed and presented to the Wakefield Permanent Building Committee. The study highlighted numerous physical building challenges, the most significant being related to the buildings envelope and lack of thermal insulation in the exterior walls, poor ventilation and air quality of the mechanical systems, outdated electrical and fire alarm systems, insufficient plumbing and large sections of the building that are not ADA/MAAB compliant.

The facilities assessment also highlighted programmatic constraints that hamper the High School’s ability to provide a learning environment consistent with the District’s Educational Program. There are educational program deficiencies and challenges within the building related to spatial provisions, configurations and adjacencies which limit the rational and functional relationship of programs within the building. Likewise, the absence of some key types of educational and support spaces exacerbates the educational challenges faced.

On April 9th, 2019 the Town of Wakefield submitted a Statement of interest (‘SOI”) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”). Submitting an SOI is the critical first step in the MSBA’s program for school building construction, addition/renovation, and repair grants. The SOI allows districts to inform the MSBA about deficiencies that may exist in a local school facility and how those deficiencies inhibit the delivery of the district’s educational program.

On December 16, 2019, following review of the SOI, the MSBA invited Wakefield Memorial High School into the Eligibility Period. Having fulfilled the preliminary requirements during the Eligibility Period the MSBA subsequently invited WMHS to conduct a Feasibility Study. A Feasibility Study Agreement was executed by the MSBA and the Town of Wakefield on March 25, 2021.

The new Wakefield Memorial High School Project completed the Design/Bidding Phase of the Project by the end of June 2024. The Construction Phase of the Project begin in April 2024 with early Enabling Work and Site Clearing. Currently, the Construction Team is currently working on enabling Site Work and Site Improvements and Installation of the Building Foundation. The Project is currently on Track to begin Steel Erection October 2024.

Wakefield Memorial High School (“WMHS”) was originally built as a Junior High School in 1960. In 1972, the Junior High was converted into the current WMHS through the construction of major additions to the north and south of the school. Since then, except for some relatively small improvements and modifications made toward meeting the accreditation requirements, the High School has remained virtually untouched.

In 2016 a comprehensive facilities assessment was completed and presented to the Wakefield Permanent Building Committee. The study highlighted numerous physical building challenges, the most significant being related to the buildings envelope and lack of thermal insulation in the exterior walls, poor ventilation and air quality of the mechanical systems, outdated electrical and fire alarm systems, insufficient plumbing and large sections of the building that are not ADA/MAAB compliant.

The facilities assessment also highlighted programmatic constraints that hamper the High School’s ability to provide a learning environment consistent with the District’s Educational Program. There are educational program deficiencies and challenges within the building related to spatial provisions, configurations and adjacencies which limit the rational and functional relationship of programs within the building. Likewise, the absence of some key types of educational and support spaces exacerbates the educational challenges faced.

On April 9th, 2019 the Town of Wakefield submitted a Statement of interest (‘SOI”) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”). Submitting an SOI is the critical first step in the MSBA’s program for school building construction, addition/renovation, and repair grants. The SOI allows districts to inform the MSBA about deficiencies that may exist in a local school facility and how those deficiencies inhibit the delivery of the district’s educational program.

On December 16, 2019, following review of the SOI, the MSBA invited Wakefield Memorial High School into the Eligibility Period. Having fulfilled the preliminary requirements during the Eligibility Period the MSBA subsequently invited WMHS to conduct a Feasibility Study. A Feasibility Study Agreement was executed by the MSBA and the Town of Wakefield on March 25, 2021.

The new Wakefield Memorial High School Project completed the Design/Bidding Phase of the Project by the end of June 2024. The Construction Phase of the Project begin in April 2024 with early Enabling Work and Site Clearing. Currently, the Construction Team is currently working on enabling Site Work and Site Improvements and Installation of the Building Foundation. The Project is currently on Track to begin Steel Erection October 2024.

Project Timeline and Status

SEP 2027 -
SEP 2027 -

Closeout Phase – Completing the Project

SEP 2027 –

JAN 2027 – AUG 2027
JAN 2027 – AUG 2027

Construction Phase – New Track/Field

JAN 2027 – AUG 2027

JAN 2027
JAN 2027

New Wakefield Memorial High School Open!

MAR 2024 - DEC 2026
MAR 2024 - DEC 2026

Construction Phase – New School

MAR 2024 – DEC 2026

MAR 2024 - APR 2024
MAR 2024 - APR 2024

100% Construction Documents

DEC 2023 - MAR 2024
DEC 2023 - MAR 2024

90% Construction Documents

AUG 2023 - NOV 2023
AUG 2023 - NOV 2023

60% Construction Documents

MAR 2023 - JUL 2023
MAR 2023 - JUL 2023

Design Development

DEC 2022 - MAR 2023
DEC 2022 - MAR 2023

Funding the Project: Local Approval Vote

JAN 2023 – MAR 2023

JUL 2022 - DEC 2022
JUL 2022 - DEC 2022

Schematic Design

MAR 2022 - JUN 2022
MAR 2022 - JUN 2022

Preferred Schematic Report

SEP 2021 - MAR 2022
SEP 2021 - MAR 2022

Preliminary Design Program

MAY 2021 - AUG 2021
MAY 2021 - AUG 2021

Wakefield Procures Designer

Town of Wakefield procures the services of a Designer using the MSBA Designer Selection Panel procedures

Read More

MAY 3, 2021
MAY 3, 2021

LeftField Appointed as OPM

MSBA OPM Review Panel approves Wakefield’s recommendation to appoint LeftField as Project OPM

FEB - APR 2021
FEB - APR 2021

Owner Project Manager Procured

Town of Wakefield procures the services of an Owner Project Manager (OPM)

Read More

MAR 25, 2021
MAR 25, 2021

Feasibility Study Agreement

MSBA and Town of Wakefield executes Feasibility Study Agreement

DEC 16, 2020
DEC 16, 2020

Feasibility Study

The MSBA Board of Directors invites Wakefield Memorial High School to launch Feasibility Study

Read More

DEC 11, 2019
DEC 11, 2019

Eligibility Period

The MSBA Board of Directors invites Wakefield Memorial High School into the Eligibility Period (MSBA Module 1)

Read More

APR 9, 2019
APR 9, 2019

Statement of Interest

The Town of Wakefield submitted a Statement of Interest (“SOI”) to the Massachusetts Schools Building Authority (“MSBA”)

Read More

-- FINAL --
-- FINAL --

Shortcuts

MSBA WEBSITE

Click here for more information about funding and protocols of capital improvement projects in the Commonwealth’s public schools

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Click here for a reference guide to clarify context and meaning to common terms used in the building process for public projects