The new Dr. Philip O. Coakley Middle School is officially open and ready to educate Norwood’s next generation of middle school students! On August 25, 2025, the Town of Norwood, MA held a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for their new 187,840sf middle school, which occupies the former school site and will accommodate 1,070 students in grades 5-8.
This successful project was a collaborative effort between Ai3, the Town of Norwood, Norwood Public Schools, the MSBA, the OPM (The Vertex Companies), and the Construction Manager (W.T. Rich Company).
Ai3 is proud to celebrate the opening of this state-of-the-art facility for the students, staff, and community of Norwood. The building features amenities for all, including a 600-seat auditorium, flexible student dining and collaboration spaces, dedicated project labs, and technology to support instructional and community use. The new facility will now include 5th grade students, expanding the opportunity for the middle grade levels to collaborate in a new facility. The district grade reconfiguration gives 5th graders a nurturing learning environment while providing access to middle school learning resources and spaces. All five elementary schools benefit from the reconfiguration by reducing overcrowding and providing more room for collaborative learning spaces in each school.
Click Here for Norwood Community Media coverage of the ceremony.