Miss Hall's Renovating, Expanding Pittsfield Campus

Miss Hall's is looking to renovate and expand the campus.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Miss Hall's School is investing up to $10 million to modernize and expand its campus.

The 115-year-old college preparatory girls' school needs to accommodate a growing enrollment and and contemporary science and technology curriculum.

"We will be looking at a combination of renovation and new build," said interim Head of School Mary Grant on Thursday. "We need to be able to use new technology and with hands-on material."

The award-winning Flansburgh Architects of Boston will develop new classroom spaces and expand the facility. The school identified the deficiencies in a 2012 strategic plan and a building committee has spent nearly a year identifying the precise needs.

"We were impressed with Flansburgh’s portfolio and its approach, particularly with regard to new thinking around learning spaces," said Grant in the statement announcing the architect selection.

Upgrading the science labs are a particular focus for the school to improve the facility for "21st century learning."

Grant said the current labs are "too rigid" to allow for either collaborative learning or independent study. Simply adding movable furniture is one example of how the labs will be improved.

"Certainly hands-on learning is better and we are adding technology," Grant said. "We are very serious about educating girls for leadership in the middle of the 21st century."

The end goal, she said, is that graduates will have the educational background they need to not just be successful but to be leaders in their fields.

Grant added that the humanities studies also will be improved with new technology, which will allow students to do much more with presentations. The preliminary plans calls for an immediate $8 million to $10 million in upgrades. The construction is expected to begin in 2015 with completion in time for the opening of the 2016 school year.

Flansburgh will refine the plans through an information-gathering process with the school's community, call for renovating and/or creating new academic spaces, including science and technology facilities, and improving campus housing for both students and adults. Joseph Crouse, of Program Management Group in Middletown, Conn., will manage the project.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.