Bristol Arts and Innovation Magnet School

Downes was hired along with Joint Venture partner D’Amato Construction as the Construction Manager for the renovations to the former Memorial Boulevard School in Bristol, CT. After almost 10 years of vacancy, the once unoccupied 1921 building with a 900-seat theater and significant public sentiment for restoration, has been converted into an arts magnet school for grades 6-12.

With both State and Federal Historic designations, this five-level building was renovated according to Secretary of Interior and State of Connecticut’s Historic Preservation standards. The theater is the school’s centerpiece and is now used for community theater events. The building is also used to train students for theater related jobs, after high school, including cameras, rigging, set design, costuming and post production.

Extensive forensic and hazmat investigations were completed to provide the design team with as much detail as possible to include in their plans and specifications within the existing 96,000 sf structure. The base building houses core academics including science labs, classrooms, a cafeteria, and offices, while the 17,000 sf addition houses a black box theater and gymnasium to serve the district’s 525 students who attend the school.