Massachusetts Community Repurposes Office Space to Expand Schools

A Massachusetts community is taking an innovative approach to address school overcrowding — by converting underutilized office space into new classroom facilities.

In Lynn, Massachusetts, city leaders repurposed a former bank headquarters into space for two public schools, allowing them to expand capacity without the cost or timeline associated with building a new facility.

The move comes as the city faces rising student enrollment, even as statewide enrollment has declined. Rather than pursue a new high school project — which can take years and require significant capital investment — local officials adapted existing space to meet immediate needs.

By converting existing buildings, Lynn added more than 1,000 secondary school seats while freeing up space elsewhere in the district to support additional programs, including a new STEAM school and expanded special education services.

For SMACNA members, this approach highlights a growing trend in state and local government: adaptive reuse of existing buildings as a faster, more cost-effective solution to infrastructure needs. These projects also bring increased attention to ventilation and indoor air quality, particularly in school settings where building performance directly impacts student health and learning outcomes.

Retrofitting older or repurposed buildings to meet modern expectations requires careful design and installation of HVAC systems that can deliver consistent air quality, proper ventilation, and long-term performance.

As more communities look to maximize existing assets, projects like this underscore the critical role of our industry in ensuring these spaces are not only functional, but healthy and high-performing.