Module 3 – Feasibility Study

The District and its team collaborate with the MSBA to document their educational program, generate an initial space summary, document existing conditions, establish design parameters, develop and evaluate alternatives, and recommend the most cost effective and educationally appropriate preferred solution to the MSBA Board of Directors for their consideration. During this phase, the Owner's Project Manager will submit on behalf of the District and its Designer a Preliminary Design Program (PDP) and a Preferred Schematic Report (SPR). Approval by the MSBA Board of Directors is required for all projects to proceed into schematic design.

Feasibility Study Timeline

The Preliminary Design Program (PDP) began in July 2016 and submission was made to the MSBA in February 2017. 

On December 7, 2017 representatives from the City of Lowell met with officials from the MSBA to discuss necessary steps to change the preferred option submitted in the initial preferred schematic report. Per MSBA direction, the City Council voted to change the preferred option to the downtown site at the January 2, 2018 Council meeting. 

On January 5, 2018 City Manager Kevin Murphy submitted a request to change the City’s preferred option to a downtown location. 

On February 2, 2018 the MSBA hosted a working meeting with City of Lowell elected officials and representatives to discuss options to be investigated, pool, schedule, feasibility study budget and communication plan between the MSBA and the City. The MSBA gave a definitive answer that a pool is not reimbursable under their program. 

The School Building Committee (SBC) held a meeting on Monday February 12, 2018 at 6:30 PM to discuss new appointments, review of the February MSBA meeting, proposed options, eminent domain and schedule. The SBC voted to explore Add/Reno option 2A, Add/ Reno option 3A expanded site, and New School on expanded site. While the MSBA initially targeted January 2019 for eminent domain action in order to complete necessary work for the revised PSR. Perkins Eastman recommended that the eminent domain schedule be addressed no later than July 2018. The City of Lowell may need to access the dentist parcel to conduct soil testing. 

The Preliminary Design Program (PDP) began in July 2016 and submission was made to the MSBA in February 2017. A revised PDP was submitted to the MSBA with a preferred option 3A on the expanded site downtown. 

On June 27, 2018, the MSBA voted to approve the City of Lowell to proceed into schematic design for an addition and renovation project at the Lowell High School, contingent upon the City gaining full ownership, control and exclusive use of the entire site, including the adjacent property by eminent domain. 


Revised Preferred Schematic Report (PSR) for Downtown Site

  1. May 2018 LHS Revised PSR
  2. PSR Task List from February 2018 SBC Meeting

Original Preferred Schematic Report (PSR) for Cawley

  1. May 2018 LHS Revised PSR
  2. PSR Submission (Full Document - Over 3,000 pages)
  3. June 6, 2017 City Council Agenda Packet
  4. June 2017 Preferred Schematic Report (PSR)
  5. May 2017 Phase II Environmental Report for Cawley
  6. May 2017 Lowell High School Feasability - Energy Study
  7. May 2017 HS Site Floor Plans - All Options
  8. May 2017 Cawley Site Existing Conditions Evaluation - Geoenvironmental
  9. May 2017 Lowell High School Phase II Site Assessment
  10. May 2017 LHS Haz Mat Summary
  11. May 2017 Haz Mat Report Extended Study
  12. May 2017 LHS Geoenvironmental Summary
  13. May 2017 Lowell HS Traffic Impact Analysis
  14. May 2017 Lowell HS Traffic Summary

Preliminary Design Program (PDP)

  1. Feb 2017 MSBA PDP Submission (Full) (PDF)
  2. Feb 2017 Site Options
  3. Feb 2017 MSBA PDP Narrative Summary
  4. Feb 2017 MSBA PDP Review Comments
  5. Dec 2016 LHS Visioning Summary

Reports to the City Council 

  1. March 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Timeline for the Eminent Domain Process
  2. February 2018 City Council Motion Response - Summary of MSBA Feb 2018 Meeting
  3. October 20 2017 City Council Motion Response - Ancillary Cost Summary LHS
  4. October 17 2017 City Council Motion Response - Regulatory and Zoning Approvals
  5. October 17 2017 City Council Motion Response - Infrastructure Improvements and Field Replications
  6. October 17 2017 City Council Motion Response - High School Fire Safety Concerns
  7. October 10 2017 City Council Motion Response - MassDOT Proposed Traffic Improvements
  8. October 10 2017 City Council Motion Response - Cawley Right of Way Costs
  9. September 26 2017 City Council Motion Response - MEPA
  10. June 6 2017 City Council Informational -HazMat Feasibility
  11. June 6 2017 City Council Informational - Traffic Feasibility
  12. June 6 2017 City Council Informational - Geoenvironmental Feasibility
  13. June 6 2017 City Council Informational - Energy Feasibility
  14. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Additional Cost Outside of Scope
  15. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Transportation
  16. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Tewksbury Article 97 and Conservation Issues
  17. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Questionnaire Downtown Survey
  18. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Parking Solutions at Cawley
  19. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - LHS Project Impact on Property Values
  20. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - LHS Field Replication
  21. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Economic Potential for the Lowell High School Site
  22. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Cost Summary
  23. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Conservation Preservation Ussues for Downtown LHS Site
  24. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Conservation Commission Votes Regarding Wetlands and Enda
  25. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Busing Costs
  26. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Asbestos Remediation
  27. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Article 97 Update
  28. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Schematic Design for LHS Options 3 and 4
  29. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Request of MSBA for Repayment of Past Projects
  30. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Drainage and Sewerage Infrastructure
  31. June 6 2017 City Council Motion Response - Anticipated Costs Due to Infrastructure Improvements for
  32. May 30 2017 City Council Motion Response - Explore Possibility of Locating New High School in HCID
  33. May 30 2017 City Council Informational - LHS Project Upcoming Meeting Dates
  34. May 16 2017 City Council Informational - Geoenvironmental, Hazardous Material and Traffic Summaries
  35. April 25 2017 City Council Motion Response - Procedures on Eminent Domain Cases
  36. March 28 2017 City Council Motion Response - Debt Exclusion Process Relating to LHS Project
  37. February 28 2017 City Council Motion Response - SBC Meeting Minutes Regarding LHS
  38. February 7 2017 City Council Informational - Lowell High School Site Selection
  39. January 31 2017 City Council Motion Response - Non-binding Referendum Question Regarding November 20
  40. January 24 2017 City Council Motion Response - UML, MCC, Lowell School Department Discussion Educat