The project came with unique topographical challenges.
Bourne is dissected by the Cape Cod Canal, which runs east-to-west across the town. The two project sites were located on different sides: the southern “Cape side” and the “north side”. This called for a significant community-wide engagement process to reach a solution that suited the student body and the wider community.
Supported by SMMA, the town launched a feasibility study to assess the potential of different school sizes and grade configurations. Options included a 250-student kindergarten through grade 4 school, a grades 3-5 school for 460 students, and the consolidation of two schools into either a 725-student PreK through grade 4 school, or an 885-student PreK through grade 5 school.
The final project incorporates a grades 3-5 school on the "Cape side" and converts the existing Peebles Elementary School to a grades PreK-2 school on the "north side". It relocates the fifth grade into the new intermediate school and provides new educational opportunities at Bourne Middle School.
Opened in 2019, the architect was Flansburgh Architects and the contractor was Brait Builders Corporation.