As the first public high school for African American students in the nation, Dunbar began its incredible history in a church basement in 1870. It has since grown to produce scores of notable African American leaders and, with its new construction, now stands as a monument to generations past while looking into the future.

“We wanted our building in many ways to build upon the past and show the students you’re not just in any school — you’re in Dunbar High School,” said Perkin Eastman’s Sean O’Donnell, principal-in-charge. “There are eight people associated with Dunbar High School that are on U.S. postage stamps. You’re part of this legacy and lineage of remarkable accomplishment.”

The site of Dunbar High School has now seen the construction of a new school three separate times. The classic architecture of the 1917 Dunbar building was demolished in the 1970s to build the most recent Dunbar High School. The building, which closed a street once utilized by the community, was virtually windowless, lightless and airless, O’Donnell said. The structure and design of the 1976 building ultimately created a divide between the iconic school from the surrounding community.

“We wanted to celebrate that because in some ways the 1976 in many ways tried to erase the history by demolishing its predecessor,” O’Donnell said.

In contrast, the new building is open and visually connected to the neighboring environment, O’Donnell said, inciting reinvigorated pride in school and its commitment to high-quality education. Additionally, the once-closed street is now reopened as a green street for the community to enjoy.

“By building on tradition but doing it in a modern way, this helps reassert the prominence of its academic programs,” O’Donnell said.

The new building is essentially on the footprints of the 1917 building, described by O’Donnell as a gorgeous piece of classic architecture, and utilized such classic elements as bay windows and towers reminiscent of the first building.

The interior also showcases notes of the past, for example, with the recreation of the armory. The armory of the 1917 building served as a training space for ROTC students, but was also a beloved social hub for the community. Now, the armory will continue where it left off as a central gathering place for both students and the community. The two-story armory, which has an abundance of natural light and views, will also serve as an extended informal learning space equipped with a food court and areas for small group learning.

“We’re honoring tradition while looking forward into the 21st century,” O’Donnell said.

With such honored alumni ranging from celebrated musicians to prominent government officials, the architects wanted to visibly showcase the former students who grew to greatness.

“We came up with a plan to integrate and celebrate those people within the very fabric of the building,” O’Donnell said.

There are 200 plaques in Dunbar High School, half of which are filled with portraits and photographs of distinguished alumni and half remain empty as inspiration to students.

“The idea is that you’ll see yourself on that plaque one day,” O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell hopes the new Dunbar High School becomes a strengthened resource to the community while standing as a visual entity of the outstanding tradition it holds.

“It will also be a catalyst because this is a community that’s in transition from kind of a tough neighborhood,” O’Donnell said. “We’re hoping that this building, by not being a fortress, by being open and engaged with the community, will inspire a larger renewal of the community around it.”
 

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With 181,000 square feet, the four-story building will serve the growing student population at UMass Boston and will include a reconfigurable 130- to 200-seat theater, a 150-seat recital hall, studios, teaching labs, student lounges and a cafeteria.

“General Academic Building No. 1 is vital in providing the necessary space to meet our growing enrollment and academic offerings,” Chancellor J. Keith Motley said in a statement. “The building’s state-of-the-art classroom spaces, laboratories, and performance areas will truly transform the learning and teaching experience here at the University of Massachusetts Boston.”

Designed by Boston-based Wilson Architects and constructed by Gilbane Building Company of Providence, R.I., GAB No. 1 is expected to open in 2015. The UMass Building Authority financed the building and will be overseeing the project.

“GAB No. 1 provides a special destination, looking east over Boston Harbor, as well as west over the Boston skyline,” said Bill Wilson, FAIA, principal at Wilson Architects in statement. “The building’s classrooms, studios, and venues will define the academic experience, and they are organized around an interactive multi-level ‘living room’ that will foster a wonderful sense of the purpose of scholarship and the values of an academic community.”

The surrounding scenic area of UMass Boston greatly influenced the design of GAB No. 1, according to Samir Srouji, AIA, design principal at Wilson Architects.

“The design for the GAB No. 1 is inspired by its context on the peninsula and location on the harbor,” Srouji said. “It forms a visual dialogue with the Campus Center, the JFK Library and the existing campus buildings, while providing a unique expression to its program and site.”

Since its original construction in the early 1970s, UMass Boston has seen a significant increase in both student population and research activity, according to DeWayne Lehman, university spokesman.

“The Integrated Sciences Complex, now under construction, and General Academic Building No. 1 will begin to address the space constraints that have developed over the years as well as provide the first new academic facilities in nearly 40 years,” Lehman said.

GAB No. 1, along with the Integrated Sciences Complex, is part of Phase I of the university’s master plan, which began in 2008 and is set for completion in 2017.

GAB No. 1 will house the art department, performing arts department and the chemistry teaching laboratories and non-research spaces.

With over 2,000 seats, including a 500-seat lecture hall, the building will be located on the northeast corner of the campus formerly the North Lot. According to Lehman, though construction may be noisy at times, it should not interfere with any daily operations at the university.

“Perhaps the most attractive and exciting part of the building will be the arts and performing arts spaces — artist studios, theater, dance and acting spaces, recital hall, and music studios,” Lehman said. “It will be a significant step to bring all the arts together under one roof.”

In continuing with its master plan, administrators at UMass Boston look forward to providing students, staff and faculty with the tools and facilities for a more promising tomorrow.

“With this building, we add a significant point of pride to UMass Boston’s bright future,” said UMass President Robert L. Caret at the groundbreaking ceremony. “I congratulate Chancellor Motley and his team for their superb leadership of this project that advances UMass Boston’s urban mission and helps build on our promise to provide our exceptional students, faculty, and staff with the world-class facilities they deserve.”

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