News

Whately Community Center and History Museum Moves Forward
November 8, 2017
Wesfield Construction Co. of Chesterfield has been awarded a 1.3 million contract to renovate the historic Whately Town Hall into a community center and history museum. Jones Whitsett Architects, led by Kristian Whitsett and George Dole, worked with the Town of Whately over several years to develop plans and secure funding for the project which will preserve the historic character of the building while addressing important accessibility needs. The project is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Historic Commission, the Whately Community Preservation Commission and a grant from the Massachusetts Green Communities Competitive Grant Program.

Wesfield aims to complete construction in the summer of 2018.

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Update On JWA's Efforts With Mount Greylock School Committee
October 2, 2017
This recent article from iBerkshires.com outlines the involved process that JWA Brooks has undertaken over the past few months to help Mount Greylock's School Committee sort out their Capital Improvement project options.

Granby Elementary Groundbreaking
July 5, 2017
The end of the school marked a turning point in the town of Granby as students, parents and district staff came out to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Jones Whitsett designed addition/renovation at East Meadow Elementary.
Always a bit of a misnomer, the school's construction has been underway for several months. It is expected to be complete by the Fall of 2018.
Media Coverage:
Granby Students to Attend One Elementary School

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Greenfield 1st Grader wins MSBA "My Ideal School" Contest
June 22, 2017
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) recently announced the winners of their 11th annual “My Ideal School” contest. The grand prize went to Mariya Stytsenko, a 1st grader at Greenfield’s Newton Street School. Notable for us at JWA, not only because of the hometown connection, but also because of Margo Jones Architects work with the Newton Street School.

After extensive renovations in the early 1990’s, the school and MJA were awarded an Historic Preservation Award from the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1993. It’s gratifying to know that the school continues to affect its students in such a positive manner. Mariya says,
“"Newton School is a great place to learn because the teachers are helpful! Newton School is the best in the world! .... Also, it would be cool if our school had dinosaurs, pirates, skeletons, and was made of rainbows!"
Although we might not have figured out how to make schools from rainbows, we did get some dinosaurs in one of our most recent projects, the Plains Elementary School in South Hadley. Congratulations to Mariya Stytsenko and the teachers of the Newton Street School. Follow the link below to read more about the contest and see the ten other finalists and their art work.

Media Coverage:
11th Annual My Ideal School Contest

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Greenfield Approves JWA's Parking Garage Design
May 15, 2017
Residence, business owners and visitors alike got there first glimpse of the new down town parking garage in this article from the Greenfield Recorder. The coverage, which revealed several full color renderings, further inspired a praising editorial about a week later in which the publication's editor states, "Jones Whitsett Architects of Greenfield is partnering with a Boston firm on the design, which we were happy to see because principal Margo Jones over the years has shown a great sensitivity to local projects to ensure they fit into their neighborhoods and historical contexts."

To learn more about this long awaited solution to Greenfield's parking woes and Jones Whitsett's unique design, read the full Recorder article here.

Media Coverage:
Greenfield board OKs early parking garage design
Editorial: Finally, Greenfield gets the parking garage it’s been pushing for

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Mount Greylock Regional School Committee Chooses JWA
March 13, 2017
Mount Greylock's School Committee members voted unanimously to hire Jones Whitsett Architects to assist in developing a plan to spend the District's $5 million capital endowment. Read the full story on iBerkshire here:
Massachusetts is #1 State in the Nation for LEED Green Building
February 25, 2017
Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its national ranking of the top states in the country for LEED green building and Massachusetts is the first state in the nation for 2016. The annual list highlights states throughout the country that made significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation over the past year. JWA's Plains Elementary School, which achieve LEED Silver status, noted as contributing factor to the #1 national ranking. See full story here and other top ranking states.
Media Coverage:
We're Number ONE!

Grove Street Condos in the News
February 21, 2017
Grove Street condominiums, designed by JWA, have been getting the attention of the Western Mass public for their unique design features. Two local publications recently ran these articles praising the projects design elements.
Dorrie Brooks Elected Associate Partner
January 20, 2017
Jones Whitsett Architects is pleased to announce that Dorrie Brooks, AIA is now partner in our firm as of the New Year! Dorrie will be Associate Principal, and will assume further management and executive functions for the firm.

Dorrie was Project Architect through construction for the renovation of the 1916 Drury High School (renamed Colegrove Park Elementary School) in North Adams, a project that was recently recognized for outstanding achievement in Learning By Design, a national school design periodical. She was also designed a new, modernist condominium project on Grove Street in Northampton, developed by the Small House Opportunity Project. The Grove Street Condominiums and Colegrove Elementary both won awards for design excellence recently from WMAIA.

Media Coverage:
People in Business

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JWA to be highlighted in Spring 2017 Learning by Design
January 20, 2017
Both Colegrove Park Elementary School and Plains Elementary School will be highlighted in the Spring 2017 edition of Learning By Design, an educational facilities periodical focusing on excellence in design. Plains Elementary is noted as an Outstanding Project, while Colegrove Park is recognized with an Honorable Mention Award.

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