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MUNROE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
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Capital Project 2023

PROJECT OVERVIEW

This project aims to provide wheelchair access to all three floors of the Town-owned Munroe building, complete with accessible, gender-neutral restroom facilities on each floor.  This project will also replace the building's antique boiler with a new heat pump system to both reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to provide air conditioning for year-round programming.  As the project winds up, the park area behind the building will be leveled and reseeded for an enhanced green space, complete with a terraced seating area for the outdoor stage.
Interior stairs going up, and going down from middle floor
Existing rusty boiler with hole in it
Typical back yard flooding after rainstorm
PROJECT BENEFITS
​

Accessibility
  1. Elevator access to 3 floors of programming by people who cannot use the stairs - for example:  seniors visiting artists or needing to get heavy painting supplies upstairs to a class, grandparents wanting to watch their grandchild's ballet recital on the top floor, a job applicant needing to get upstairs to the MCA office, or a parent with crutches needing to pick up a young child from class
  2. Wheelchair accessible, gender-neutral restrooms on each floor
  3. New main entrance, accessible to all
  4. Americans with Disabilities Act compliance

Updated HVAC
  1. Replacement of aging boiler that is nearing the end of its life
  2. Reduction in fossil fuel consumption, utilizing a new heat pump system
  3. Air conditioning in all areas of the building to meet 21st century needs per rising global temperatures, longer warm seasons, and summer programming

Enhanced park space
  1. Leveled back park space that eliminates undulating pitch of green area, and spring/summer rain pooling
  2. New grass seed planted to fully cover park space and prevent the annual four weeks of cicada killer wasps in the summer
  3. Tiered seating area by outdoor stage
  4. Access to ADA compliant toilets during MCA operating hours 
COSTS & TIMELINE

The Munroe Center for the Arts has secured funding from grants, donations, and savings to pay for architectural design work and plans for the project to be able to go out to bid.  These drawings support a cost estimate of $6.6MM for construction.  
  • December 2022 - CPC approved this project for use of CPA funds
  • March 2023 - Historic Districts Committee approves the building design
  • March/April 2023 - Town Meeting votes on whether to approve this project for use of CPA funds
  • May 2023 - Construction drawings are available for Lexington Department of Public Facilities to put the project out to bid.  Upon finding a contractor, the DPF will act as the project manager
  • Fall 2023 - Construction begins
  • ​Summer 2024 - Anticipated completion
IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY AND COMFORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY NOW

The Town of Lexington has established goals for both improved accessibility and sustainability, as recorded in the 2022 Comprehensive Plan, and the FY22/23 Select Board Retreat Goals.  This project provides a solution for this town-owned building to achieve these goals.  Additionally, it also dovetails with the 2020 Community Needs Assessment.  Key findings of this report point to cultural diversity, inclusion, and accessibility prioritized as an integral part of community programming.  Cultural programming was rated #1 in investment for programs, with outdoor events, senior programming, and performing arts programs listed as high priorities.

Over the past several years, MCA leadership has evaluated different possibilities for accessibility and HVAC solutions, and have found the one presented to 2023 Town Meeting to make the most sense for our community, and its continued high quality arts programming.

Failure to act now prevents universal access to this building and services, and may incur additional costs if the boiler dies (noting that one of two boilers did die this summer, and MCA was able to bring the second aged boiler online).  Second to these ethical and financial obligations, there are no further alterations that can be made to the building without first making the building accessible (MA 521 CMR).

​While the price tag seems high, it will never get any less expensive.  The MCA has been able to secure funds for an architect to create plans and design work to get this project out to bid but is unable to pay for construction costs.  This requires a community effort to bring this project fully to reality.  ​This project has been approved by the Community Preservation Committee for including in the FY24 project cycle.  Now it just needs approval by our Town Meeting Members.

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Transcript available for Accessibility & HVAC upgrades overview video (in-video captioning in progress)

ATM Slideshow 3.29.23
 Lexington Friends of the Arts dba Munroe Center for the Arts • 1403 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington MA 02420 • 781-862-6040
501(c)(3)    EIN:  04-3245366
Copyright © 2019 Munroe Center for the Arts
Images may not be copied without permission from Munroe Center for the Arts and/or the artist(s) who created the image(s).

  • About
    • History & Vision
    • Contact Us >
      • Staff
      • Board of Directors
      • Artists
    • Access
    • COVID-19
    • Transportation >
      • Parking
    • Newsletter
    • Annual Report
    • Munroe in the Media
  • Classes
    • Ceramics >
      • Spring Youth Ceramics
      • Spring Adult Ceramics
    • Theatre >
      • Spring Youth Theatre
    • Visual Arts >
      • Spring Youth Visual Arts
      • Spring Adult Visual Arts
    • Workshops
    • Music
    • Dance
    • Profiles
  • Camps
    • April Vacation Program
    • Summer Camp
    • CIT Program
  • Munroe Center Stage
    • Recorded Performances
    • Season Schedule
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • ArtWalkBunnies
    • Art Gallery >
      • In The Gallery
      • Exhibit Your Art / Curate a Show
    • Lex Open Studios
    • Past Events
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Testimonials
    • Volunteering