The project began with a feasibility study that explored multiple school sizes and locations.
One option was to replace only one of the Town’s three elementary schools and merge the other two schools. The district ultimately chose to consolidate all three schools into one facility.
Athol’s three neighborhood elementary schools had a large presence of non-English speaking families. It was critical that open lines of communication be maintained with parents and community members throughout the feasibility and design processes. This was achieved via public forums, neighborhood gatherings, and multiple joint town-board meetings.
Athol Elementary School is MA-CHPS certified. CHPS is a green building performance standard dedicated to providing PreK-12 students with access to environments that promote learning and wellness.
The school’s design has a range of sustainability features. These include a wood chip-fired heating plant, daylighting, displacement ventilation, and LED lighting.
