The Kennedy-Longfellow School (KLO), located at 158 Spring Street in Cambridge, MA, currently serves as a swing school and temporary space for students in Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade while other schools in the Cambridge Public Schools district undergo renovations. In addition to its K-8 curriculum, the building also hosts a preschool program through the Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP), serving children ages 2.9 to 5 years old. The KLO school occupies a three-story, 121,000-square-foot building, constructed in 1971. It contains classrooms, administrative offices, an auditorium, gymnasiums, a cafeteria, and support spaces. Located in a residential neighborhood of apartment buildings and single-family homes, the building is designed in accordance with the architectural standards of its time. It is a concrete structure with brick and concrete block infill, steel and aluminum replacement window, and a membrane roof with PV solar panels. Although the building has undergone necessary repairs and minor interior upgrades to accommodate changing user needs, its systems remain outdated, the interiors are worn, nonfriable asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) have been identified, and the HVAC system is inefficient, requiring a comprehensive review and eventual overhaul. A full building assessment, conducted in 2022 as part of a larger school master planning study (see appendices for the KLO assessment), identified several critical needs. Now, the Cambridge Public Schools Department (CPSD) is seeking assistance to reevaluate the findings, define an appropriate scope, develop cost estimates, and renovate the selected areas. To facilitate this process, CPSD plans to close the building at the end of the 2025 school year for at least one year. In addition to the building, the adjacent Ahern Field (baseball and soccer fields, selective courts, and playgrounds) will also be evaluated for replacement and repairs (see appendices for the summary). This scope will include community engagement in coordination with Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD), Department of Public Works (DPW), and DHSP. Given the limited time during which the school will be unoccupied, the project's first deliverable will be a Feasibility Study. This study will present the City with various options, cost estimates, and recommendations for the intended scope. Respondents should familiarize themselves with the City of Cambridge Zoning Ordinance prior to submitting to this RFQ. Respondents are directed to review Article 5.00, Development Standards, Section 5.54 Special Regulations for Municipal Elementary and Middle (“K-8”) Schools...
