THE CAMBRIDGE LIFE FALL 2019 ISSUE 3, VOL.4 A PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS THECAMBRIDGELIFE.ORG Cambridge Street King Open/ Homecoming Cambridge Street Upper School & Community Meeting the Needs of Our Younger Complex Residents Valente Branch Library Recreation Amenities & Open Space Were Project Priorities Transportation & Mobility Features A Historical Pictorial of 850 Cambridge Street King Open/Cambridge Street Upper School & Community Complex Site Map Project Overview The 273,000 square foot facility at 850 Cambridge St. opened in September 2019 and houses the King Open School (JK-5), Cambridge Street Upper School (6-8), Cambridge Public Schools Administration, King Open Preschool, King Open Extended Day (KOED), Community Schools, and Valente Library The $159 million school and community complex is a net zero-ready project that consumes no fossil fuels onsite, has a highly efficient design to minimize energy demand, and incorporates the City’s largest solar array to renewably produce much of the energy needed. Remaining energy will come from the electrical grid, and when Cambridge secures 100% renewable electricity supply, the complex will achieve net zero emissions. Site amenities and open spaces include Gold Star Pool, two gyms, two basketball courts, Charles G. Rossi Bocce Court, five playgrounds, outdoor splash pad, Cambridge Street Plaza, Valente Reading Garden, a Learning Courtyard/Outdoor Classroom, and a 380-seat auditorium. “One of the important considerations throughout this entire process was to make sure we successfully met the needs of the students, staff, the school administration, the neighborhood, and users of Cambridge Street,” said Lisa Peterson, Deputy City Manager and King Open/Cambridge Street Upper School & Community Complex Project Manager, adding that an extensive community process was conducted. “Buildings are not just about infrastructure, but about the people who are using them. Increasing open space in this densely populated neighborhood and constructing a highly sustainable facility were also of the upmost importance.” City Manager’s Message f you have driven down Council, the City administration Cambridge Street, you can see and departments, the School I the fantastic, recently completed Department, and the School King Open and Cambridge Street Committee in making sure we are Upper School and Community supporting all our students. The Complex. This new $159 million complex, in addition to the lower educational and community facility and upper schools, includes a new is not only the City’s first significant Valente Branch Library, Gold Star net zero-ready building but is the Pool, pre-school and community City Manager Louis A. DePasquale second of three new school complexes school facilities, and space for the we are constructing. In fact, the school administration. I believe that this entire process has been planning for the third school, the the new community amenities will remarkable. I believe the completed Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane significantly benefit the neighborhood project will live up to your Upper School in West Cambridge, and reflects the public input we expectations. is well underway. In total, the City received during the planning process. Please join us for the Grand Opening is investing over $500 million in I want to personally thank the Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 26, three new school facilities. residents of the adjacent 2019 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In this edition of The Cambridge Life, neighborhoods and the local As always, you are welcome to send we are focusing exclusively on the businesses that endured the years me your feedback or ideas by new complex. This project serves as of construction. I know how calling my office at 617-349-4300 an excellent backdrop for highlighting challenging and disruptive this or emailing me at citymanager@ how City priorities connect. project has been at times. Your cambridgema.gov. I am proud of the collaboration patience, cooperation, and and partnership between the City partnership with the City during Contents 2 2 Cambridge St. Homecoming 4 4 Meeting Needs of Younger Residents 6 A Historical Pictorial 6 8 Valente Branch Library 10 Recreation Amenities/Open Space 11 Transportation/Mobility Features 12-13 Building/Sustainability Features 8 King Open/Cambridge Street Upper Schools & Community Complex Project Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, City of Cambridge Lisa C. Peterson, Deputy City Manager and Project Manager Michael Black, Construction Program Manager Brendon Roy, Construction Project Manager William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. 10 Arrowstreet Architecture and Design THE CAMBRIDGE LIFE // FALL 2019 1 CAMBRIDGE STREET HOMECOMING Returning to East Cambridge has been a much anticipated homecoming for Cambridge Street Upper School and King Open School. Photos: Bethany Versoy From an equity perspective, every student should be able to get what they need. he block of 850 Cambridge and offers engaging outdoor about our new Makerspace,” he says. Street has been home to a learning spaces – which connects “Having a space like this facilitates T public school for many decades, our students with the outdoors.” interdisciplinary STEAM projects that tap into our scholars’ creative “All students deserve the opportunity to experience the potential.” excitement that comes with intellectual discovery, Fernandez is an outspoken leader and this new facility offers many new avenues for that type in national conversations about the impact of racism on student of exploration.” learning. He remarks, “for Cambridge to invest in a beautiful beginning with the Harrington As a net zero-ready building, “the and innovative public school for School, which merged with the King setting allows us to really live out such a racially and economically Open School in the early 2000’s. our values and responsibility to the diverse community of scholars is In 2012, the building underwent environment and our community.” heartening.” He continues, “the renovations to make way for A key priority in the design process work of education is not just about Cambridge Street Upper School was meeting the social-emotional kids. It’s about all of us, and our and King Open School as part of needs of students. According to responsibility for creating change.” the equity-driven restructuring of Williams, special care was taken to The return to Cambridge Street Cambridge Public Schools known provide welcoming and appropriate as the Innovation Agenda. marks a new chapter in the history spaces for students with autism. of King Open and CSUS. After over three years in temporary “We refer to their classrooms as space, the schools now return to an our small learning communities,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. entirely transformed physical he says. “It’s a social justice issue Kenneth Salim reflects, “all environment on their home campus. to make sure that all of our students deserve the opportunity to The two schools have been carefully students are integrated into the experience the excitement that tailored to meet the specific needs community – so that we can be a comes with intellectual discovery- of their students and programs, true community.” and this new facility offers many new avenues for that type of thanks to extensive involvement Head of Upper School Manuel of educators throughout the exploration.” Through student- Fernandez (pictured left) likewise centered design and innovative design process. lauds the building’s responsiveness th th thinking, “these schools exemplify King Open Principal Darrell to the needs of 6 -8 graders at our vision of rigorous, joyful and Williams (pictured above), CSUS. In particular, the school’s culturally responsive learning + explains, “Our school has a long robust theater arts and music personalized support for every commitment to project-based programs now has a first-class student in Cambridge learning, and the school contains performance space, and the Upper Public Schools.” many features that support School gymnasium respects the hands-on, integrated and deep developmental differences between learning.” He continues, “The middle schoolers and younger building is filled with natural light, children. “I am particularly excited THE CAMBRIDGE LIFE // FALL 2019 3 Meeting the Needs of Our Younger Residents King Open Preschool parents are consistently engaged child gets extensive face-to-face across a child’s time at the Preschool, engagement and care. All City he King Open Preschool has so they remain deeply involved in preschools are licensed by the doubled in size, adding a their child’s development. Department of Early Education and Tsecond classroom at the new Care (EEC) and meet state “Our daughter loves school and all site with 17 additional spots. of her teachers are beyond wonderful! requirements. Additionally, the King This will enable more children to They are creative, affirming, and Open Preschool has achieved the participate in the Preschool’s child-centered.” – King Open highest quality rating in the EEC’s excellent curriculum and learning Preschool Parent. Quality Rating Improvement environment. System (QRIS) and exceeds national The Preschool maintains a ratio of Operating a full day, year-round standards for quality childcare by 3 teachers for 17 children with program, the King Open the National Association for the additional classroom support from Preschool offers a high-quality Education of Young Children the Director and Teacher curriculum that engages children (NAEYC). Learn more at