Burlington High School Project Moves Forward With One Fewer Option
The Burlington High School Building Committee eliminated one option but several more remain, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.
The High School Building Committee is getting closer to choosing a final design, but the three options that remain on the table are so different they're hard to compare.
One option, which involved purchasing property at 10 Corporate Drive and building a new school apart from the existing site, has been eliminated from the mix. Superintendent Eric Conti, who initially was in favor of looking into the possibility, said at the January 9 meeting that further investigation revealed the option is unfeasible. The move would have left the school with less parking and a lack of connectivity with the current campus, where the science center, performing arts center, and gym currently sit.
Though the Committee voted 15-1 to eliminate the 10 Corporate Drive option, there are still a number of remaining options.
One option would have the school and varsity field swapping places, with the possible addition of underground parking spaces under the new field. The field will be close to needing replacement, officials have said, by the time the building is ready to be moved. But there would still be the issue of reconstructing seating, something that wouldn't need to be done if the field and school both stayed put, and the question of where teams would play in the interim.
Several abutters attended this meeting to voice their concerns and opposition to this idea, citing concerns about noise, light, and traffic in their neighborhoods if the field is relocated to that part of the property.
Another option is to construct the new school where the student parking lot sits; in this case, the school would be tall, long, and thin, an orientation that might not be ideal for a school building, says School Committee Member, Jeremy Brooks.
The meeting also covered site plans, sustainability options, and noise impact studies. The Committee also discussed potential heating and cooling systems, including geothermal options. They noted that the high school currently accounts for 20% of Burlington's municipal building energy use.
The committee plans to narrow down options further in upcoming meetings. A Community Forum is set for February 12, with the next High School Building Committee meeting following on February 13.
