Two architects presented options for the renovation and reconstruction of a new Nathan Bishop Middle School to a group of nearly 50 East Side residents at a meeting Tuesday night at Martin Luther King Elementary School. The architects are from the firm Architecture Involution Inc., which was hired by the city.
Nathan Bishop had been the only public middle school on the East Side when it closed down a year ago following a drop in student enrollment. The East Side Public Education Coalition - a group of parents and residents on the East Side - has been working to bring the school back. The coalition has recently gained the support of Donnie Evans, superintendent of the Providence Public School District.
One plan for the school would retain most of the existing structure and only demolish the rear portion of the building, which would involve uprooting trees along the back of the building, said architect Scott Dunlap. This option includes only a 4,000-square-foot gym, which Dunlap said would be "undersized."
The second option attempts to keep the outside shell of the building but could pose an "educational or functional compromise because (we would be) trying to stack everything in that space."
The third option accepts that the current building will be demolished, Dunlap said.
In response to residents' questions, Dunlap said the architects' immediate goal is to "decide the basic configuration of the building and not small details, which will continue to evolve during the design process."
Dunlap did not provide cost estimates for any of the options, saying the plans are still being developed, but he said the firm would try to keep costs as low as possible. Several people present at the meeting said they would have liked a discussion about the cost of different options.
"We don't have the whole picture," said Michelle McKenzie, an East Side resident.
But Dunlap told the residents gathered that their input was important. "I don't think you'll be disappointed," he said.
James Jordan, another architect at the meeting, told The Herald the architects do not have a preference in terms of options and that they would let the "cost estimating speak for itself." The architects hope to have cost estimates once they've finalized the components of each plan.
Mark Dunham, finance director for Providence public schools, said when the three plans are finalized, they will be submitted to Mayor David Cicilline '83, the Providence School Board and the Providence Preservation Society. The mayor and Providence school district will make the final decision regarding the building's fate.
Barbara Feldstein, an East Side resident and Nathan Bishop graduate, praised the architects for taking an interest in the school's revival.
"We took pride in our school and we respected authority. We want a quality middle school for East Side children that we haven't had in a long time," she said. "It is very important for Providence."
Dunham said he hopes the school will reopen by September 2009.
