Career & Technical Education

Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School

New Bedford, MA

Since its construction in 1978, the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School has been well-maintained and regularly updated to accommodate educational program needs and changing technologies. In 1999 DRA completed a facilities study that determined a need for additional academic space and other improvements.

DRA proposed a new 3-story academic wing to address growing enrollments and out­dated facilities. The strategy of new construction was favored over ren­ovation and expansion of the existing labs. By constructing new state-of the-art labs, the existing labs could be converted to additional class­room space. The efficient organization of program elements on three stories minimized the addition’s footprint and the volume matched the adjacent building. Reconfiguration and expansion throughout the school improved pro­grams including culinary arts, diesel education, aquaculture, hydro­ponics, childcare and dental assistance. The scope also called for new roof, new windows, handicapped access throughout and upgrade to the HVAC system. This work was completed in 2004.

In the summer of 2006, the school again retained DRA to review existing facility information, meet with administrators and staff, conduct on-site assessments, compile a list of improvements, and to develop a Capital Improvements Master Plan.

In 2011 DRA was selected by the MSBA’s Designer Selection Panel to conduct a feasibility study and schematic design to provide additional classrooms, enlarged science rooms to meet new state guidelines, new seating space for the cafeteria, new multiuse forum space, a new culinary kitchen, a new servery in the existing cafeteria, right sizing of certain of the existing shops, and new mechanical and electrical equip­ment for the entire complex. The new spaces are housed in a three-story classroom addition and one-story cafeteria, forum and culinary kitchen addition. Materials and finishes closely match the existing. Following completion of the study and schematic design the New Bedford, Dartmouth and Fairhaven communities approved the project to proceed through final design, documentation, bidding and construction. This project was completed in 2014.

Expanded/renovated Vocational Program areas:

• Aquaculture
• Diesel education
• Plumbing (new)
• Building maintenance & technology
• Childcare
• Dental assistance
• Culinary arts