New Woodshop Opens at 1 Lowell!

By Courtney Dickinson

Well… at last it is here! The NEW woodshop in our Arts & Sciences Building (at 1 Lowell Avenue) will OPEN after April break! This upgrade will help improve focus and learning in the woodshop and engineering areas by allowing louder tools to be used at any time. At the same time, removing the woodshop noise and dust from 5 Lowell will enhance the learning environment and free up space for Phase 1 of our Theatre Zone, which we plan to launch by the end of this school year!

What do Acera staff think about this?   

“A learning space that will allow us to focus better – a self contained space with acoustic sound proofing; a devoted space without the flow of traffic through it, and unburdened by a strong need to keep noise and dust down… it will lead to better and deeper focus for woodworking students, and better setting for those of us teaching in the woodshop – Adam, Malcolm and me. I think we will be able to build even deeper and better woodworking and engineering skills and thinking as a result.” – Mr. Josh Briggs, Engineering, Woodshop and Math Specialist Teacher

“If it ends up being ready-enough-to-use, it would be amazing for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to be the Inaugural play in this new zone which we will bring online!” – Ms. Emily Stefanich, Core Teacher Room 5 + Lower School Coordinator 

Kevin has led this project through thick and thin, and moved through hurdles galore.  We bought the building a couple of years back, and envisioned an initial plan to rebuild a two story Acera Arts & Sciences Center  Though there was enthusiasm for a vision to expand Acera’s classroom space dramatically, ultimately the tremendous post-Covid construction price tag and lack of condo office park neighbor support led us to a clear decision to re-focus on renovation of the existing 1 story structure. 

So what is completed and ready now?  Woodshop.  Bathrooms.  New Roof. New plumbing + other systems. 

And what is to come?  When finished, after a Capital Campaign this fall, our Arts & Sciences Building will have six studio lab speciality spaces including a physics lab, maker space, visual and fiber arts studio, and music & filmmaking recording studio… all rooms are flexible use, and can accommodate math classes, IMP/ Passion project zones, and program expansions for Creativity stations and enrichment!  

With our Certificate of Occupancy and expanded insurance in place for school use, woodshop engineering classes will take place in the new location after April break!  Josh has worked closely with Kevin to envision how this space will function.

Recent history… last summer, after having a clear plan and approval for buildout of the first 4 of the 6 studio lab spaces, we received an expected phone call and “freeze” on an in-process permit last summer; the town’s building commissioner had not noted the flood zone markers on our plan.  .. weathering adversity and pushing through changes is just how we roll at Acera!  Please Thank Kevin for his unwavering flexibility and constancy to steward this through, and for finding wonderful vendor partners.  

“We’ve outgrown our current space, and this new building gives our students the room they need to learn and grow together. A major gift campaign will help us complete the vision—and lay the foundation for Acera’s future.”— Trent Ramsey, Development Director.