NEW BEDFORD, MA– Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS), a tuition-free public charter school that currently services 500 students in grades 5-12, has named Boston based architecture and design firm Arrowstreet to the renovation project of the historic building located at 106 Bullard Street in New Bedford creating “One School, One Campus.”
Arrowstreet is an award-winning, Boston-based architecture and design firm comprised of architects, interior designers, planners and graphic designers. The team met with staff and students at the school to get their input on the new design.
The One School, One Campus project will lead to the rehabilitation of an addition three story, 18,132 square foot building for GLCPS students, staff and community members. This project will allow GLCPS to reallocate classroom space and offer students an education experience that remains rich in technology and on the leading edge of education innovation. The expanded classroom space will feature science labs, dedicated art and music space, foreign language classrooms, multi-use classrooms and teacher and community collaboration space. The renovation will also include necessary upgrades to bring the building up to code.
The buildings are on a 25-year lease, including a 5-year extension option, with the Diocese of Fall River. The new lease includes both the current main campus building located at 190 Ashley Boulevard and the addition of the adjacent former St. Anthony’s convent building located at 106 Bullard Street in New Bedford.
Prior to the 2019-2020 school year, GLCPS was split between two campuses, approximately 2 miles apart, creating a travel interruption during the school day for high school students that split their time between both campuses. With the new lease in place GLCPS will embark on a campaign to renovate and upgrade the facility creating “One School, One Campus.”
As a Public Charter School, GLCPS does not receive the same facilities support as traditional districts through local tax levies and the Massachusetts School Building Authority, ultimately placing the financial burden directly on the school. GLCPS will only be able to achieve the expanded campus with the support of the local community, individual donors and private foundations.
“Arrowstreet presented us with a design that reflected our school’s core values of honesty, respect, trust, and hard work,” said Dr. Stephen Furtado, Executive Director of GLCPS. “Flexibility and adaptability will be key factors in merging the historic convent character with a 21st century academic program tailored to GLCPS’s mission.”
