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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Mercy has spent nearly 20 years planning and managing educational spaces, advocating ��for inclusivity, accessibility and diversity within the educational design sector. With a focus on neurodiversity, Mercy sees physical environments as a tool to enhance student success, engagement, and collaboration with staff and community. Using her extensive experience and strategic leadership style, Mercy will grow A4LE’s membership while sparking collaboration with fellow organizations to create impactful connections.��

“We are incredibly proud of Marylee’s selection as president of A4LE’s New England Chapter,” said Gail Sullivan, managing principal at Studio G, in a statement. “Her passion for creating educational spaces that truly serve the needs of students and educators is unmatched, and we’re excited to see the impact she will continue to make in this new capacity.”��

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BOSTON – Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology will soon have a new campus in Roxbury’s Nubian Square thanks to a design by local firm Studio G Architects, Studio EN EE and Dellbrook One Way, a joint venture of Dellbrook|JKS and One Way Development.

The new 66,000-square-foot facility for Franklin Cummings Tech will entail a three-story structure that will allow for the school’s continual growth.The new school will offer flexible learning spaces, technical labs, outdoor gathering spaces and student lounges.Additionally, a rooftop learning lab will offer a practical learning environment where students can engage in hands-on work in renewable energy technologies and mechanical systems.

“The groundbreaking of our new campus marks a pivotal moment in our mission to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement for our students,” Dr. Aisha Francis, president at Franklin CummingsTech, said of the commencement of construction work.“Our new campus will provide an environment that not only meets the needs of current students but also anticipates the demands of future educational programs.

The designers are aiming to achieve LEED Gold status on the construction project by installing energy-efficient mechanical systems and utilizing passive design strategies and renewable energy sources to reduce its overall environmental impact.

“At Studio G, we are deeply committed to designing spaces that not only meet the functional needs of our clients but also contribute positively to the communities they serve,” Studio G Architects Senior Project Manager Sally Gibson said of the project.“The new campus for Franklin Cummings Tech exemplifies this commitment, as it will not only provide cutting-edge educational facilities but also serve as a catalyst for the revitalization of Nubian Square.”

In a subsequent statement to �鶹������, Studio G Managing PrincipalGail Sullivan called the project a stellar opportunity to create an efficient learning space within an urban core.

“The Franklin Cummings project offered us an amazing opportunity to create more and more useful learning space in a smaller building than the 110,000 square feet the college now inhabits,” Sullivan said.“We’ve done so with rigorous efficiency that also offers them more connected, open and flexible spaces, from the lobby to the rooftop learning labs. Additionally, we are really proud that we demonstrated that by using passive building design strategies, we could meet the 2023 Massachusetts Energy Code with no extra effort.The new college will have an all-electric, lower-carbon building for their program of technical and vocational education.”

The new campus is expected to be completed late in 2025.

Studio G Architects, founded in 1991, is a certified women-owned business (WBE).In addition to their work in K-12 and higher education design, the company is also active in housing and other sectors.

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The $35 million campus situated along South Watuppa Pond was designed by , a Jamaica Plain, Mass.-based, 16-person firm that is a certified woman-owned business (WBE). The staff is comprised of multi-racial and multi-ethnic, LGBTQ-friendly professionals — half of whom are women.  All Studio G Architects are LEED-accredited professionals. The builder was Agostini Bacon Construction Companies, a third-generation, family-operated, Rhode Island-based company.

The 96,000-square-foot waterfront facility has three wings that enclose around a landscaped courtyard. Two of the wings — dubbed The Lower School and the Upper School — serve grades K-6 and grades 7-12 respectively. A gymnasium and a regulation-sized track and field are shared by all students.

“Studio G Architects and Agostini Bacon Construction Companies helped to make our vision for a new school a reality,” said Robert Beatty, executive director of Atlantis Charter School, in a statement. “After years of financial planning, we were able to finance construction of this new building. Studio G and Agostini/Bacon Construction stretched an already limited budget to create a beautiful learning environment for even less than we anticipated. The new school gives our students the educational and recreational space they deserve, and it will serve them for years to come.”

Kathy Labouliere, project manager for Agostini Bacon Construction Companies, attributed the project’s success to teamwork among all the stakeholders. “In my experience, the key to a very successful project is working together as a team. All the players need to work together to achieve a successful project, something Agostini/Bacon Construction promotes. As you can see we were able to accomplish that here for the students at the Atlantis Charter School by finishing the classroom wings a month early,” she said in a statement.

Hallmarks of the new campus are promoting a healthy learning environment and sustainability. Fresh air comes into the classroom courtesy of an air displacement system, and natural light shares window space with views of water and nature. Likewise, low- products have been used throughout the building; ditto low-energy light and high-efficiency water fixtures. Radiant panels provide efficient and cost-effective heating to the structure.

“Studio G is inspired to work on school projects that enhance students’ growth and success. Flexible spaces that have fresh air, abundant light, and views to landscape all contribute to successful learning environments,” said Robin Greenberg, project manager for Studio G Architects, in a statement.

Aesthetically, the exterior of the project endeavors to marry three temporal states simultaneously  — the past, present and future. To wit, the grey ground-face concrete masonry of the facades is meant to evoke the visual appearance of “geological strata.”  Native New England plants surround the new school building, as do boulders that have strategically arranged throughout the landscaping to provide sitting and congregating areas.

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