On the Boards: Maquan Elementary School

Dodson & Flinker is collaborating with T2 Architecture on the design of a new public elementary school (pre-K through 5th grade) in Hanson, Massachusetts. The project is currently wrapping up schematic design under the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) program. The new school will replace two existing schools serving the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District: the Maquan School (pre-K through 1st grade) and the Indian Head School (2nd grade through 5th grade). Our study first included only the replacement of the Maquan School, but a town vote added the replacement of the Indian Head School across the street into design consideration. Dodson & Flinker assisted the design team and the building commitee with the exploration of dozens of concepts to combine the schools on the two-parcel site. Early this year, the building committee decided to move ahead with a version of one of the concepts. Dodson & Flinker has since led teacher workshops on outdoor play and learning space and developed schematic concepts for organizing outdoor play and learning features alongside functional parking and circulation.