Design Option Chosen for MHS Building Project

The Medford Comprehensive High School Building Committee (SBC) voted to select design C2.2A as the singular design option for the Medford High School (MHS) building project’s Preferred Schematic Report during Wednesday's full committee meeting. 

Design C2.2A is a renovation and addition design that will build on the existing footprint of the current high school. The building committee selected C2.2A given the design’s:

• Increased visibility and sight lines within the building to enhance school operations and supervision of students
• Preservation of the current pool, gymnasium, and other indoor athletic facilities (all will be renovated)
• Access to natural light throughout the entire design
• Support from Medford’s Chief of Police and Fire Chief 
• Need for 0 modular classrooms
• Cost, which was the lowest of addition/renovations options

Community feedback gathered throughout the spring was provided to the SBC ahead of the committee’s decision, with the gathered community support also favoring the C2.2A design. The design will be included as part of the project’s Preferred Schematic Report (PSR) submission to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) later this month. 

A full recording of Wednesday’s SBC meeting and the meeting presentation can be found here.  

At this time, the current estimated total project cost is $813,000,000 for all the proposed programming, with the city’s estimated cost share being $591,000,000 (Estimated Medford share cost is an early rough estimate of MSBA reimbursement accounting for currently projected eligible costs, cost caps and reimbursement rates). 

Throughout the summer and fall, the building committee will continue to review the design’s space summary to revise and finalize project space and costs. Additionally, the city of Medford will be undergoing Feasibility Studies of other community spaces throughout the city. 

What’s Next

An estimated timeline for the Medford High School building project can be found below. This timeline is tentative and subject to change. 

• June 25, 2026 - PSR Submission to the MSBA
• August 2026 - Schematic Design Phase begins
• October 2026 - Construction Manager joins project team
• Spring 2027 - Projected City Debt Exclusion Vote
• Spring 2027 - Schematic Design Phase completed
  • Project scope and budget agreed with MSBA
• Summer 2027 - Site preparation work begins
• Summer 2028 - Phase 1 Construction begins
• Fall 2030 - Phase 1 Construction complete
• Fall 2030 - Phase 2 Construction begins
• Fall 2032 - Phase 2 Construction completed
• Fall 2032 - Phase 3 Construction begins
• Spring 2033 - Phase 3 Construction completed
• Spring 2034 - Site work completed