Associate Professor Charles Cimino of the Wentworth Institute of Technology orchestrated a display of his architecture students’ projects yesterday focused on the reuse of the Medfield State Hospital.   It turned out to be remarkably interesting to see what fresh eyes did with the Lee chapel and a couple of the surrounding buildings.  Colleen Sullivan took pictures and wrote a great article describing what was shown.    Click here to see her photos and article.

PURCHASE UPDATE  – The special legislation for the Town of Medfield to buy the Medfield State Hospital site has reportedly been through one committee hearing already in the legislature.  Shall we start a pool betting on when the town will actually get to buy the property.  I bet it will be 1/1/2015, getting in just under the wire before Governor Patrick leaves office the following week.

The state is now using what it calls its Partnership model for state land disposition on the Fernald School site  in Waltham, in addition to Westboro and Medfield.  Click her to see the article.

View Adaptive Re-use Plans for Medfield State Hospital Designed by Wentworth Institute of Technology Students

All are invited to attend a reception and exhibition of final design projects for a historic section of the Medfield State Hospital including the Chapel (Lee Building,) Infirmary, and Club House. The event will take place on Thursday, April 17, 2014 from 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM in Watson Auditorium at Wentworth Institute of Technology, 550 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02116.

Student teams will present their innovative designs based on the adaptive re-use of the former hospital into one of the following five facilities:

• A Culinary Center
• A Center for the Arts
• Student Union and Library for a Community College
• Museum and Visitors Center
• Outpatient and Clinical Research Center

Earlier in the year the Architecture and Interior Design students toured the hospital property. They were granted access inside the Lee Chapel and provided copies of the original architectural drawings. After completing initial designs, they then collaborated with Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Structural Design, Mechanical Design and Facilities Management to create innovative and creative plans for the site. Law students were also involved regarding major legal issues such as bylaws and hazardous waste disposal. In total, over 90 students worked on these projects under coordination and direction of seven faculty members.

The Culinary Center proposal used the surrounding agricultural lands as their source of food, including green houses for the winter months. Three Museum and Visitor Center proposals included a theater, historical museum that could include gallery space for a history of the hospital, history of treatment for mental illness, and even space or home for the Medfield Historical Society. The Center for the Arts adopted the Chapel for a performing arts theater and surrounding space for work areas, studios, and cafes.

Town officials and residents are all invited to this exciting exhibition on April 17th.

For additional information please contact Prof. Charles Cimino at 617-989-4467 / ciminoc@wit.edu, or Gil Rodgers at 617-792-0583 / gilrodgers@aol.com.

This on the Westboro State Hospital status, indicating the legislation had a committee hearing already –

Legislation advances to allow Westboro to take over hospital property

Enlarge photo

WESTBORO — Special legislation that will allow the town to buy the Westboro State Hospital property has advanced through a hearing last week, one more step in the process.

In addition to selling about 95 acres of the Westboro State Hospital to the town, the legislation sets up the framework for future sales of state hospital properties, and dedicates a portion of the Westboro State Hospital proceeds to fund mental health programs.

The bill, H.3979, was the subject of a hearing Thursday before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Oversight. The bill was filed on behalf of the town by state Reps. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, Danielle Gregoire, D-Marlboro, and Matthew Beaton, R-Shrewsbury, and Sen. James Eldridge, D-Acton, following approval from town meeting voters in October.

The Medfield State Hospital water tower and well field legislation passed 3/26/14 in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.   It still needs to be passed by the Massachusetts Senate.  This email from Representative Denise Garlick –

Dear Mike,

I am pleased to announce that the House of Representatives enacted the Medfield well field and water tower bill (S1889) yesterday in formal session.

State House News reported:

MEDFIELD: Question came on enacting S 1889 directing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to transfer certain parcels of land in the town of Medfield. A roll call is required.

BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 144-0, BILL ENACTED at 1:44 p.m.

The bill will now move back to the Senate for enactment and onto the Governor!. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Think Spring!

Yours in service,

Denise C. Garlick

State Representative

13th Norfolk District
Needham, Dover and Medfield

Telephone: 617-722-2070