Frequently Asked Questions

Project Basics

What is the Lexington High School Building Project?

The Lexington High School Building Project is an effort, already several years in the making, to significantly repair and enlarge or fully replace the existing LHS. The current structure no longer meets our educational needs due to failing infrastructure and overcrowding in classrooms and common spaces.

  • An analysis of massing studies currently being considered estimates the project could require a total budget between $600M and $800M depending if scope is added for a new field house, indoor pool, Central Administration, or structured parking. Several factors could influence the cost including systems, materials, and other decisions that will occur later in the design process. Regardless of the total, the Town will not bear the entire cost of the project. It’s anticipated approximately $100M of eligible project costs will be reimbursable by the MSBA. The net cost of the project for the Town will be borrowed through municipal bonds which are structured and paid back with interest over many years (up to 30 years). 

    During a meeting on May 22, 2024, the Town’s Director of Finance, Carolyn Kosnoff, presented all of this information in more detail to a collection of Town officials and residents. View the presentation to learn more about the project cost, the Town’s plans to finance the project, the potential impact on taxpayers, and the ongoing effort to lessen that impact.

  • Regardless of the chosen design option, we anticipate construction beginning in 2026. If a new construction option is selected, we estimate opening the new Lexington High School to students for the 2029-2030 academic year. The projected length of construction won’t be determined until a design is selected. If an add/reno option is chosen, we anticipate the completed school opening to students a year later, in the 2030-2031 academic year.

  • Under current massing studies, a newly constructed or larger, renovated building would be placed in the general area of the existing structure, or on the playing fields adjacent to that site, along Worthen Road. Either of these options will impact the recreation space currently managed by the Town. This is an issue the Town and LPS are working diligently to address. We anticipate the Town Pool Complex, playground, Center Recreation turf/track, tennis, and basketball courts will remain open and available to the public during the project.

  • The project team is comprised of the School Building Committee, an Owner’s Project Manager, and a Designer. Other groups involved include Town Staff, LPS staff and administrators, and residents. Representatives from the Massachusetts School Building Authority are also heavily involved, as are a variety of local community groups with a vested interest in the project.

  • The needs of the LPS student population have outgrown the existing Lexington High School. Overcrowding, inadequate facilities, failing infrastructure, and undersized educational spaces are among the issues that need to be addressed. The reputation of our educational system far exceeds the deteriorating condition of our high school.

    ↪ Go to: Why do we need bigger classrooms?

    ↪ Go to: What is an educational plan?

  • It is our top priority to engage with the community and involve the residents of Lexington as much as possible during this project. The success of our efforts depends on your input, commitment, and support.

    4 Ways to Stay Involved

    1. Sign up for ParentSquare: This is a digital notification platform used by Lexington Public Schools to communicate with the district. Anyone can sign up, even if you don't have a student in the school system.

    2. Subscribe to Agenda Alerts for the School Building Committee: This is a service through the Town's main website that allows you to receive text or email alerts when a new agenda is posted for the School Building Committee. Agendas include meeting times, dates, and locations, as well as the topics expected to be discussed at future meetings and links to any relevant documents.

    3. Utilize the School Building Project Website: This website is the easiest way to stay informed on and involved in the project. It includes information on upcoming events, meetings, important deadlines, and updates you may have missed in previous weeks.

    4. Contact the School Building Committee: The SBC welcomes and encourages feedback from the community and other stakeholders. Please contact the SBC with any questions, comments, or concerns you have about the project.

Last updated on: Friday, October 4, 2024

Project Cost

An analysis of massing studies currently being considered estimates the project could require a total budget between $600M and $800M depending on if scope for a new field house, indoor pool, Central Administration, or structured parking is added to the project.

The following questions will address specific details about how that cost is being determined, how the Town will pay for the project, and the anticipated financial impact on taxpayers and the community.

  • Eventually, the cost estimate will be based on a detailed design. For now, professional estimators have provided us with total estimated costs based on a rough per-square-foot cost.  That number is multiplied by the estimated square feet needed to meet the Educational Program of the school.  The estimated per-square-foot cost is based on other recent school construction projects in the metro Boston area, adjusted for cost escalation/inflation. The Educational Program and space required to meet that program were developed by the project team, working with the school administration, and approved by the School Committee.

    The School Building Committee spoke to the estimators during a meeting on August 5, 2024. The recording of that meeting is available online, and the portion involving the estimators begins approximately 7 minutes and 30 seconds into the recording.

  • The Town will pay for this project by issuing Municipal Bonds. These bonds will be competitively sold on the open market and the Town will choose the bidder offering the lowest True Interest Cost (TIC). The Town will work with a contracted investment advisor to determine the most appropriate term and structure of the bond payments. The specifics of the Bond structure will determine the annual costs to the Town and the taxpayers. 

  • The cost of this project is in line with the construction and total cost of other school projects in the metro Boston area, once adjusted for size, local building code, and cost escalation/inflation. 

    The cost-comparison to other school building projects is broken down in detail in a video produced by SMMA.

  • Current estimates of the total project cost to the Town equate to an increase in annual property taxes of approximately 10% to 14%. As of July 2024, the Town’s median property value is $1,354,000. The estimated increase in property taxes for a property of that value ranges between $1,699 (10%) and $2,412 (14%).

    Several factors could mitigate the impact on taxpayers.

    The Town has already planned to absorb approximately $4M in debt annually from within the tax levy. This number could increase in the coming years.

    The Town also continues to build up a cash balance in the Capital Stabilization Fund. The current available amount is approximately $32M. This money could be used in several different ways.

    • The Town could allocate this money directly to the cost of the project therefore lowering the size of the bond needed.

    • Funds could be used to cap the annual increase in property taxes to a certain percentage

    • Money from the CSF could be used to draw down the balance evenly to reduce the taxpayer impact over a certain number of years

    • The Town could choose a level principal financing plan (Higher annual costs early on, but decreasing payments over time) and use the money from the CSF to bring down the total annual payments in the early years of repayment.

Last updated on: Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Project Design

The project design encompasses the logistics of location, construction, and the overall timeline of the project.

The massing studies being considered by the School Building Committee (SBC) are based on recommendations and research from the Project team, as well as feedback from the community.

The design process is constantly evolving. The SBC will continue to engage with the community and involve them in the process as much as possible.

A group of stakeholders stand at a table looking at a massing study related to the Lexington High School building project
School Building Committee Chair, Kathleen Lenihan, speaks to a group of residents and stakeholders
Brian Black, a member of SMMA, points to a presentation screen during a community design meeting about the Lexington High School Building Project

  • We are in the Feasibility Study.

    This is the third stage of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) building project process. The Feasibility Study has two phases: Preliminary Design Program & Preferred Schematic Report. Those two phases, defined in answers below, must be completed, submitted to, and approved by the MSBA before the project can progress.

  • The Preliminary Design Program (PDP) is the first stage of the Feasibility Study phase (Module 3 of the MSBA building process) where the District and its team collaborate with the MSBA to document their educational program, generate an initial space summary, document existing conditions, establish design parameters, develop and evaluate alternatives and recommend the most cost-effective and educationally appropriate alternatives to the MSBA for further evaluation in the PSR phase.

    The Town of Lexington submitted their PDP submission to the MSBA on May 31, 2024.

    View: LHS Building Project PDP Submission

  • The Preferred Schematic Report (PSR) is the second stage of the Feasibility Study phase (Module 3 of the MSBA building process) where the District and its team collaborate with the MSBA to refine their educational program and space summary, further develop and evaluate alternatives, and recommend the most cost-effective and educationally appropriate solution to the MSBA Board of Directors for consideration. The MSBA must receive and approve the Preliminary Design Program and the Preferred Schematic Report before a project can move into the next stage of the building process, Schematic Design.

  • On November 12, the School Building Committee will vote on a preferred massing study that will move into schematic design, subject to approval from the MSBA.

  • Massing studies are conceptual diagrams created based on the high-level requirements of a project. These studies illustrate the potential locations and dimensions of a project. Massing studies do not represent final designs, locations, or costs associated with a project.

  • There are currently five massing studies being reviewed by the School Building Committee. Three of the studies involve the construction of a new building on the fields adjacent to the current structure. One study shows a new construction on the existing building’s location, completed in phases. The fifth study includes a renovation of portions of the current building combined with an addition.

    The School Building Committee is aware of the impact this project will have on the recreation playing fields, and has received a number of questions about that impact from the community. The answers available at this point in the project will be posted soon.

Last updated on: Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Project Team

The Project Team is an umbrella term used to describe any individual or group who is playing a direct role in the project. However, this term does not encompass every individual, group, or organization involved.

  • The Project Team, as defined and required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), includes the School Building Committee (SBC), an Owner's Project Manager, and a Designer.

    Other groups involved in the project include:

  • The School Building Committee (SBC) is a collaborative body comprised of Town & School staff, members of the community, and representatives from the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) and Designer teams. The SBC works hand in hand with the OPM and Architect to oversee the site selection and design of the building, provide input, and assist in managing MSBA requirements. The SBC also takes all MSBA votes necessary to advance the project. 

    Establishing an SBC is a required part of the MSBA Building process. There are strict guidelines about community representation on the committee and the responsibilities placed on the group. 

    The current SBC membership is as follows: 

    —(Voting Members)—

    Kathleen Lenihan, Chair, Lexington Public Schools

    Michael Cronin, Vice Chair, Department of Public Facilities

    Mark Barrett, Member, Public Facilities Project Manager

    Charles Favazzo Jr., Member, Permanent Building Committee

    Dr. Julie Hackett, Member, Superintendent of Lexington Public Schools

    Jonathan A. Himmel, Member, Permanent Building Committee Chair

    Carolyn Kosnoff, Member, Assistant Town Manager for Finance

    Joseph N. Pato, Member, Lexington Select Board

    James Malloy, Member, Town Manager

    Hsing Min Sha, Member, Resident/Community Representative

    Kseniya Slavsky, Member, Resident/Community Representative

    Andrew Baker, Member, Lexington High School Principal

    Dan Voss, Member, Sustainable Lexington

    —(Liaisons)—

    Rick DeAngelis, Recreation Committee Chair

    Charles W. Lamb, Capital Expenditures Committee

    Alan Mayer Levine, Appropriation Committee

  • An Owner's Project Manager (OPM) is a consultant firm hired by the Town through a qualifications-based selection process. Prospective OPMs submitted written proposals for evaluation. The Town then conducted formal interviews with potential candidates before a decision was made. OPM teams consist of professionals in design and construction management. In collaboration with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), we have hired Dore and Whittier as the OPM for this project.

    The presence of an OPM on a public project of this magnitude is required.

    The OPM works as an extension of the group pursuing the project, in this case, the Town and the School District. The OPM represents the Town's interests through all project phases. They provide project oversight throughout its duration, from design and permitting, through construction.

    Other responsibilities of the OPM include, under the Town's guidance, managing project-specific communication, monitoring the budget, and tracking the project's progression.

    In addition to working closely with the Town and the School District, the OPM collaborates with the chosen team of architects and designers. The OPM and the design team gather public feedback throughout the early stages of the project to ensure the Town and the School District have options consistent with the wants and needs of the community. This effort helps keep the project in line with policies and procedures outlined by the MSBA. Adhering to MSBA guidelines is necessary if the Town wants to receive maximum funding reimbursement.

    During construction, the OPM provides full-time on-site supervision of the project. They monitor the quality of work and the fiscal status of the various project phases. The OPM also maintains an open line of communication between the Town, residents impacted by the project, and the construction team.

  • SMMA is the architecture firm chosen by the Town and the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to manage the design of the school building project. They have worked on more than two dozen school-building projects in communities across Massachusetts, including High Schools in Waltham, Winchester, and Tewksbury. SMMA has core expertise in architecture, engineering, interior design, and site design.

  • Dore & Whittier is a New England-based design and project management firm comprised of architects, designers, educational planners, interior designers, and project managers.

    Dore & Whittier has served as an Owner's Project Manager on several school building projects in the area, including the design and construction of Lexington's own Maria Hastings Elementary School.

Last updated on: Wednesday, September 4, 2024

The information provided on this page is representative of what is presently known. Additions and edits will be made as the project develops. Some questions may be listed without corresponding answers — these are questions we have received from the community that we are actively working to answer.

Do you have a question you don’t see here? Email the School Building Committee!