By Lindsey Coulter��

In Boston’s 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’s mission through architecture, aligning physical space with evolving workforce demands, student��needs��and institutional identity.��

Designed by Studio G Architects, with��collaborating architect��STUDIO ENÉE,��the approximately $75 million,��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.��

Bringing the project to life��required��a highly iterative, collaborative process spanning years, leadership��transitions��and shifting institutional priorities. From site��selection��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.��

Site Selection as Strategic Foundation��

The Franklin Cummings Tech campus welcomed its first students in January, but the path to opening day began with a��nearly four-year��programming and planning effort, beginning with��identifying��the right site—an approach rooted in access,��equity��and alignment with the college’s mission.��

“We were initially hired��for��site selection and programming,” said Gail Sullivan, managing principal and founder of Studio G Architects. “The school needed to be in the city of Boston and located near public transportation.”��

Given Boston’s density and real estate constraints, finding a suitable parcel proved challenging. However, when a site on Harrison Avenue became available, the decision came quickly.��

“We went and saw the site and within 24 hours the offer was made,” Sullivan said. “It was a unanimous, fairly instantaneous decision.”��

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’s ongoing revitalization, reinforcing the institution’s role as both an educational and civic anchor.��

Programming Through Change and Constraint��

While site��selection��was swift, programming proved more complex. The design process unfolded amid leadership transitions, financial��constraints��and evolving academic priorities.��Studio G��Architects��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.��

“We shrank the facility from��104,000 square feet��to��70,000 square feet��because cost was a big factor,” Sullivan said.��

Despite the reduced footprint, the new building��ultimately delivers��greater efficiency and functionality than its predecessor.��

“The previous facility had a lot of wasted space,” said Marvin Loiseau, Ed.D., Chief Academic��Officer��and Dean of Academic and Student Affairs for Franklin Cummings Tech. “Constructing��a purpose-built space really allowed us to be efficient.��Everything is placed purposefully and strategically so that we can ensure that��we’re��supporting our students.”��

At the same time, the institution’s academic direction continued to evolve,��prompting��design��adjustments.��

“New programs in wind-turbine maintenance and solar installation were introduced midway through the process,” Sullivan said. “So, we had to revisit the program to adapt to new needs. It was a multilayered process.”��

These shifts underscore the dynamic nature of modern technical education, where facilities must remain adaptable to changing industry demands and student pathways.��

Designing for Flexibility and Utilization��

With a smaller footprint came an increased emphasis on maximizing every square foot.��

“If you’re shrinking your��space by��that much, you have got to create a lot of flexibility,” Sullivan said. “You have to guarantee that every space is used through the whole day and into the evening.”��

To achieve this, the design��eliminates��traditional single-use spaces such as a dedicated auditorium and reduces the number of private faculty offices. Instead, it introduces��well-appointed hoteling spaces for educators and teaching��environments that can shift based on need.��

A key example is the second-floor learning space, where operable partitions and a large movable glass wall system allow three classrooms to combine��with The Commons��into a single space accommodating up to��500��people. This approach provides the functionality of a large assembly space without sacrificing daily usability.��

Flexibility also extends to informal and student-centered spaces, addressing a critical gap��identified��in the��previous��facility.��

“In the previous building, there really wasn’t student-centered space, but here there are dedicated areas for students:��study commons, meeting rooms or places to just hang out,”��Loiseau��added. “It gives them flexibility and a sense of ownership.”��

Read more and see additional project images in the 2026 Higher Education Issue of �鶹������.

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“The opening of our new campus is a significant milestone in our mission to provide transformative technical and trade education that drives economic growth and generational wealth for our students,” said Dr. Aisha Francis, president and CEO of Franklin Cummings Tech, in a statement. “This facility will stand as a beacon of opportunity in Nubian Square and create an environment that addresses the needs of today’s students while also anticipating the requirements of future educational programs.”��

The new campus, designed by Boston firms Studio G and STUDIO ENÉE and Dellbrook One Way (a joint venture composed of Dellbrook|JKS and the Roxbury-based minority business enterprise, One Way Development), showcases the college’s tenacity to provide high-quality, sustainable technical education for students. The 68,000-square-foot, three-story building houses state-of-the-art facilities, technology and communal areas, reinforcing Franklin Cummings Tech’s commitment to growth and to being a space for collaboration. ��

A rooftop learning lab sits atop the new building, allowing students to directly interact with sustainable practices alongside mechanical and engineering technologies, a move that the college’s leaders hope will prepare students for careers in the green economy. An advanced manufacturing center, exposed MEP systems that double as examples for students, a heat pump installation lab and a ground-level automotive shop that is open to the community are also included in the plans. On theme with sustainability, the project is aspiring to attain LEED Gold certification by using energy-efficient systems and renewable energy sources. ��

“Studio G is incredibly excited to unveil this groundbreaking project that is set to provide Franklin Cummings Tech students with the resources and space they need to excel,” said Sally Gibson, senior project manager at Studio G Architects, in a statement. “Franklin Cummings Tech’s new campus will provide cutting-edge educational facilities while serving as a catalyst for the revitalization of Nubian Square.”��

A graduate of Franklin Cummings Tech, Harry Rodriguez will serve as an assistant project manager and assistant superintendent of the construction throughout his time as a project engineer in Dellbrook|JKS’s Construction Immersion Program.��

“I’m proud to continue my relationship with Franklin Cummings Tech, from walking out its doors as a graduate to framing the doors on the new campus FCT will call home,” said Rodriguez in a statement.��

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