Franklin Cummings Tech Furthers Construction Progress
BOSTON—Franklin Cummings Tech (FCT) has announced a milestone achievement on construction of the school’s new campus in Roxbury’s Nubian Square. The private non-profit college, which provides affordable education for students pursuing technical careers, broke ground on the project earlier this year and celebrated its topping-out in November.
“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.