Superintendent of Schools, Berkshire Hills Regional School District
At Its meeting on the morning of Tuesday, January 30, 2024, the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) Designer Selection Panel selected DiNisco Design, Inc. (DiNisco), in collaboration with William Rawn Associates (WRA), as the design firm for future improvements at Monument Mountain Regional High School.
The Designer Selection Panel (DSP), formed by the MSBA, included thirteen (13) appointed members by the MSBA and three (3) representatives of Berkshire Hills Regional School District, including the Superintendent of Schools, Peter Dillon, Stephen Bannon, School Committee Chair, and Jason St. Peter, School Building Committee Chair/School Committee Member. Following presentations from the two shortlisted firms, DiNisco/WRA and Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc., the District’s three (3) unanimous votes for DiNisco/WRA were favorably met for a majority selection of DiNisco/WRA.
Following successful contract negotiations, DiNisco/WRA has been approved to provide the Monument Mountain Regional High School project design and engineering services. DiNisco, serving as the prime architect, has teamed with consulting architect William Rawn Associates (WRA) for this Project due their successful partnership on past projects and WRA’s deep experience creating high performing spaces for the arts that are beloved by performers and patrons and will help us create a school that builds on BHRSD strong traditions.
DiNisco is a Boston-based architectural firm specializing in the public educational sector and understand the need to educate and inspire all students. Both firms have a strong presence in Western Massachusetts, includes DiNisco’s work in Springfield and Amherst with several elementary schools and a high school as well as WRA’s work at Tanglewood and Williams College. “Starting with Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, the Berkshire Region has been a key part of our firm’s work. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Monument Mountain Regional High School and the communities it serves.” Sam Lasky, Principal, William Rawn Associates.
DiNisco has a 45-year track record of designing public schools in Massachusetts, collaborating with districts like the Berkshire Hills Regional School District (BHRSD) to help fulfill their educational goals with a school that supports their curriculum and provides optimal learning environments. WRA’s collaboration lends an added benefit to the project due to their recent experiences designing many public and private high schools across the Commonwealth. DiNisco is a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) certified by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). “We look forward to arriving at an inspiring and cost-effective solution that can be supported by town officials and citizens alike. We are excited to have the opportunity to work with BHRSD for what promises to be a transformative project.”, Donna DiNisco, President, DiNisco Design, Inc.
Since being accepted into the MSBA’s Feasibility Study Program in the Spring of 2022, the Monument Mountain Regional High School Building Committee has hired the Owner’s Project Manager, Skanska USA Building, Inc., the Designer, DiNisco/WRA, fulfilling the requirements of Module 2, “Forming the Project Team.”
The Project will now enter Module 3, the “Feasibility Study Phase.” The Project Team will work with the District and Stakeholders to develop a Preferred Design Project (PDP), due to be submitted to the MSBA this summer.
The District is targeting a debt exclusion vote in the fall of 2025 to appropriate funding for the preferred project solution (all dates are subject to change). More information on upcoming community forums and educational visioning sessions will be shared with the community in the coming months.
Contact: Peter Dillon, Superintendent of Schools, Berkshire Hills Regional School District, (413) 298-4017 ext. 19. peter.dillon@bhrsd.org
