The Franklin Cummings Tech campus welcomed its first students in January, but the path to opening day began with a听nearly four-year听programming and planning effort, beginning with听identifying听the right site鈥攁n approach rooted in access,听equity听and alignment with the college鈥檚 mission. | Photo Credit (all): Damianos Photography
By Lindsey Coulter听
In Boston鈥檚 Nubian Square, the new home of Franklin Cummings Tech reflects a fundamental shift in how the institution delivers technical education. The project expresses the college鈥檚 mission through architecture, aligning physical space with evolving workforce demands, student听needs听and institutional identity.听
Designed by Studio G Architects, with听collaborating architect听STUDIO EN脡E,听the approximately $75 million,听68,000-square-foot facility replaces a significantly larger legacy campus while expanding programmatic capability, advancing sustainability goals and reshaping the student experience. The result is a highly efficient, purpose-built environment that reflects both the realities of urban development and the future of technical education.听
Bringing the project to life听required听a highly iterative, collaborative process spanning years, leadership听transitions听and shifting institutional priorities. From site听selection听through programming, design and construction, each phase required careful coordination, producing a building that functions not only as a place of learning, but as a teaching tool itself.听
Site Selection as Strategic Foundation听
The Franklin Cummings Tech campus welcomed its first students in January, but the path to opening day began with a听nearly four-year听programming and planning effort, beginning with听identifying听the right site鈥攁n approach rooted in access,听equity听and alignment with the college鈥檚 mission.听
鈥淲e were initially hired听for听site selection and programming,鈥� said Gail Sullivan, managing principal and founder of Studio G Architects. 鈥淭he school needed to be in the city of Boston and located near public transportation.鈥�听
Given Boston鈥檚 density and real estate constraints, finding a suitable parcel proved challenging. However, when a site on Harrison Avenue became available, the decision came quickly.听
鈥淲e went and saw the site and within 24 hours the offer was made,鈥� Sullivan said. 鈥淚t was a unanimous, fairly instantaneous decision.鈥�听
The location placed the institution directly within the community it serves, strengthening accessibility for students and embedding the college within the fabric of Nubian Square. The move also contributes to the neighborhood鈥檚 ongoing revitalization, reinforcing the institution鈥檚 role as both an educational and civic anchor.听
Programming Through Change and Constraint听
While site听selection听was swift, programming proved more complex. The design process unfolded amid leadership transitions, financial听constraints听and evolving academic priorities.听Studio G听Architects听began by interviewing all department leaders, but balancing the distinct needs of each program presented inherent challenges, particularly as the college worked to align its offerings with emerging workforce demands. At the same time, financial realities required a significant reduction in overall building size.听
鈥淲e shrank the facility from听104,000 square feet听to听70,000 square feet听because cost was a big factor,鈥� Sullivan said.听
Despite the reduced footprint, the new building听ultimately delivers听greater efficiency and functionality than its predecessor.听
鈥淭he previous facility had a lot of wasted space,鈥� said Marvin Loiseau, Ed.D., Chief Academic听Officer听and Dean of Academic and Student Affairs for Franklin Cummings Tech. 鈥淐onstructing听a purpose-built space really allowed us to be efficient.听Everything is placed purposefully and strategically so that we can ensure that听we’re听supporting our students.鈥�听
At the same time, the institution鈥檚 academic direction continued to evolve,听prompting听design听adjustments.听
鈥淣ew programs in wind-turbine maintenance and solar installation were introduced midway through the process,鈥� Sullivan said. 鈥淪o, we had to revisit the program to adapt to new needs. It was a multilayered process.鈥�听
These shifts underscore the dynamic nature of modern technical education, where facilities must remain adaptable to changing industry demands and student pathways.听
Designing for Flexibility and Utilization听
With a smaller footprint came an increased emphasis on maximizing every square foot.听
鈥淚f you鈥檙e shrinking your听space by听that much, you have got to create a lot of flexibility,鈥� Sullivan said. 鈥淵ou have to guarantee that every space is used through the whole day and into the evening.鈥�听
To achieve this, the design听eliminates听traditional single-use spaces such as a dedicated auditorium and reduces the number of private faculty offices. Instead, it introduces听well-appointed hoteling spaces for educators and teaching听environments that can shift based on need.听
A key example is the second-floor learning space, where operable partitions and a large movable glass wall system allow three classrooms to combine听with The Commons听into a single space accommodating up to听500听people. This approach provides the functionality of a large assembly space without sacrificing daily usability.听
Flexibility also extends to informal and student-centered spaces, addressing a critical gap听identified听in the听previous听facility.听
鈥淚n the previous building, there really wasn鈥檛 student-centered space, but here there are dedicated areas for students:听study commons, meeting rooms or places to just hang out,鈥澨齃oiseau听added. 鈥淚t gives them flexibility and a sense of ownership.鈥�听
Read more and see additional project images in the 2026 Higher Education Issue of 麻豆福利网.