Burke High School
Burke High School
Boston, Massachusetts
The Jeremiah Burke High School is located in Dorchester, Boston's largest and most diverse neighborhood. The 1934 school has been renovated, and a new wing houses a public library, high school library, community center, and gymnasium. The Grove Hall Branch of the Boston Public Library stretches along the street with a two-story-high glass façade. Above it is the new school library, connected to below with an open fish-ladder stair. And at the top of the new wing is the competition-sized school gymnasium, with special floor construction to isolate noise.
Recognition
Combined Community Program Citation, Boston Society of Architects
“The Burke is the first new facility to exemplify the mayor’s Community Learning Initiative, a collaborative effort by Boston Public Schools, and the Boston Public Library to promote education and literacy across the city. With a flexible and user-friendly design, Schwartz/Silver has effectively managed circulation and different levels of controlled access between the various programs in the old and new buildings … while maintaining transparency and openness and keeping security concerns at the forefront.”
Collaborators
Structural Engineer: Le Messurier Consultants Inc.
Mechanical and Plumbing Engineer: SAR Engineering Inc.
Electrical Engineer: Johnson Engineering and Design, Inc.
Landscape Architect: Geller DeVellis Inc.
Civil Engineer: Nitsch Engineering
Code: Jensen Hughes, Inc.
Acoustics: Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, Inc.
Preservation Consulting: Preservation Technology Associates, Inc.
Hazardous Materials Testing: EnviroScience Consultants Inc.
Estimator: A.M. Fogarty. & Associates, Inc.
General Contractor: W. T. Rich Company
Photographer: © Alan Karchmer
