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MATERIALITY USA 2024
Billerica Memorial High School Perkins&Will
Location Billerica, Massachusetts Function High School Client Town of Billerica, Massachusetts School Building Authority Completion date 2020 Architect Perkins&Will Sustainability Targeting LEED Silver Certification Photography Chuck Choi
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MATERIALITY USA 2024
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he town of Billerica has undergone a subtle yet significant transformation in recent years. However, its former high school, characterized by outdated and dysfunctional facilities, failed to accurately represent the town’s contemporary identity. In collaboration with the community, Perkins&Will embarked on a project to reshape this perception by designing their largest civic structure. The newly constructed school accommodates over 1,600 students in grades 8-12, a Pre-K program, and district administrative offices. Brick tectonics The architectural choice of brick serves as a symbolic lesson to students about the power of simplicity in generating complexity, as well as the potential for collective renewal. The masonry’s interaction with natural elements visually narrates the ever-evolving nature of education’s impact on our sense of self. Drawing inspiration from the town’s heritage as a New England mill town with a prevalence of red brick structures, the new high school seamlessly integrates this historical context with its forward-looking educational mission. The unassuming red brick exterior receives a fresh interpretation through geometric corbeling, while the interior employs sustainable timber construction techniques that infuse new significance into this traditional material. These simple