News

North Adams K-7 Colegrove Park Elementary Enters Construction
June 9, 2014
On bright and sunny day in late May in North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright presided over an exciting ground breaking ceremony for the renovation of the former Conte Middle School. The design of the school led by Margo Jones of Jones Whitsett Architects, will be completed by General Contractor PDS Construction of Bloomfield, CT. The new school will be known as Colegrove Park Elementary School, and will open to new students in August, 2015. It is on track for LEED silver certification.

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Jones Whitsett Team wins People's Choice Award
March 25, 2014
Congratulations to Jones Whitsett’s own Dorrie Brooks and Kristian Whitsett and landscape designer Julie Meyer of Gardens of Delight for their successful entry in the Small Lots|Big Ideas Design Competition hosted by the City of Northampton and WMAIA. Their submission, entitled YOU|ME|US won the People’s Choice Award at the conclusion of a week of public exhibition at the APE Gallery in early October. The was celebrated by judges as an “elegant solution to an obviously challenging condition” for its successful integration of single family home and accessory apartment on a narrow 1/8th acre lot. The design suggested a contemporary, urban farm house with alternating shed roof forms and a welcoming front porch intended to connect the two family dwelling to the existing single family neighborhood.

Margo P. Jones Elected NCARB Treasurer
July 12, 2013
Margo P. Jones, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP was elected treasurer on the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Board of Directors at its 94th Annual Meeting.

Margo P. Jones, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, of Greenfield, MA, was elected treasurer on the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Board of Directors at its 94th Annual Meeting.

“NCARB’s work is carried out by an extremely dedicated group of practitioner volunteers,” Jones said. “We donate our time on behalf of the public and the betterment of our profession. Together we form a priceless brain trust, which is a unique asset of the Council.”

Jones was elected Board secretary in 2012 after serving for three years as the Director of Region 1, which comprises the registration boards of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Over the years, she has volunteered her time to several NCARB committees and task forces, including the Audit Committee, the Continuing Education Committee, the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) Subcommittee, the Internship Committee, and most recently, the Governance Task Force. She has also been a member of the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) visiting team since 2008.

Jones served as secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Architects from 2008-2012. As an active member of the professional community, she served as president of the Western Massachusetts AIA from 1994-1996 and has volunteered on several community and cultural organization boards, such as the Greenfield Community YMCA, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, and the Arts Council of Franklin County. Jones is the founder and president of Margo Jones Architects, Inc., established in 1984. The award-winning firm specializes in educational facilities, historic preservation, and cultural institutions.

Jones holds a Master of Architecture degree from M.I.T. and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago. She is licensed in Massachusetts and Vermont.

Media Coverage:
Massachusetts Architect Margo P. Jones Elected NCARB Treasurer

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Friends for North Adams Schools Rally Support for Conte School
April 17, 2013
Residents of North Adams, MA are scheduled to go to the polls on April 30, 2013 to vote for the renovation of the historic Conte School in downtown North Adams. The current schematic design prepared by Margo Jones Architects proposes renovating this prominently placed 1915 Renaissance Revival high school into a modern, state of the art K-7 facility within walking distance of downtown North Adams.

Plans call for installation of entirely new windows, new mechanical systems, new play spaces and street connections, and renovation of the original auditorium into a gymnasium to be access by the community in the evenings.  Project Architect Kristian Whitsett will meet with residents at 6:30pm, April 17 at MCLA’s Murdock Hall to review plans and answer questions.

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Whately Residents Debate the Fate of Town Hall
April 17, 2013
The Town of Whately is working hard to come to consensus on the future of the Historic Whately Town Hall. Built in 1844, the existing building has served as a school, a basketball court, a theater and, most recently, as town offices. Like many aging meeting halls across the state, Whately Town Hall is costly to heat and maintain, and lacks the space and amenities required to meet current building codes.

The Town has held open houses, conducted a straw poll, and distributed literature to inform voters.  Margo Jones Architects assisted, providing four different renovation, addition and construction options and costs.  In May town residents will vote to fund design development.

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Time Capsule discovered at Ashley Street School
December 22, 2012
They say you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. Such is the case in Westfield, MA where Associated Building Wreckers of Springfield, MA was recently brought in to demolish the old Ashley Street School to make way for a new MJA designed elementary.

When the wrecking ball made a loud clang as it hit a wall, workers stopped to discover a small metal box buried deep in the partition. Inside were letters, newspapers, brochures and business cards dating to Oct. 6, 1897. Margo Jones Architects is now working on plans to exhibit the contents in the new school’s lobby.

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MJA Presents Plains School Design to South Hadley Residents
November 30, 2012
January 7, 2013 and the Town of South Hadley will hold the first of a series of important community meetings to discuss the proposed ratification of a tax override to support construction of a new 28.2 million dollar Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd grade school.

Kristian Whitsett will be on hand at the community meetings, to answer questions about the design and the MSBA funding process.  The next community meeting will take place February 6, 2013 at 6:15 at Plains Elementary.

Media Coverage:
“Funding for new elementary school in South Hadley tops town meeting warrant
” by Patricia Cahill
January 07
2013

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