K-12 Public Schools

Elias Brookings Elementary School

Springfield, MA

After a tornado damaged several city-owned buildings in Springfield, DRA assisted with the emergency assessment and recommendations for two schools. Elias Brookings School was severely damaged and due to the age of the building (1925), the need for larger classrooms and the requirements to meet new code compliance, renovations were not feasible.

A new facility was developed on a 3.5 acre site in close proximity to the existing school and students were moved to modular temporary classrooms across the street from the site of the new construction.

Neighborhood meetings were held to discuss the design and gather input. Issues such as traffic and student safety were a primary concern. The need to create a true “community school” and encourage community uses of the facility both after-hours and with some programs during school hours were also priorities.

The new 3-story 65,000 SF elementary school includes a central lobby staircase with ceramic tile, gymnasium, cafeteria, media center, classrooms for music and art and community room spaces. Exterior features include a playground adjacent to a student garden and a playing field. The red brick exterior was chosen to reflect the architecture at Springfield College, which is just up the hill from the new school.

Elias Brookings School was designed and constructed to meet Massachusetts’s CHPS School designation.  Completed in 2015.