Facilities Master Plan (FMP) Updates

The Facilities Master Plan (FMP) Steering Committee met on August 10 and 24, 2026, to review the Existing Conditions Report and Executive Summary, discuss their release, and review the proposed building options for Town department buildings.

Existing Conditions Report

  • After nearly five months of comprehensive review, the assessment of all Town and School buildings is complete, marking an important milestone in the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) process.
  • The report provides a comprehensive overview of the current condition, functionality, and needs of the Town and School buildings and will serve as an important foundation for the next phase of the Facilities Master Plan.
  • Following feedback from the FMP Steering Committee and Town staff, Arrowstreet incorporated updates and finalized the report. The Executive Summary and full Facilities Existing Conditions Report are now available on the FMP Project page for the community to review.
  • In addition to assessing mechanical and electrical systems, accessibility, and decarbonization, the assessment considered building code compliance.
  • It’s important to note that an older building that does not fully meet current codes can still be legally occupied as long as it was compliant with the code in effect at the time it was designed and built and does not create a hazard. This is often referred to as "existing non-conforming buildings".
  • Future renovations, alterations, or changes in use may require certain parts, or potentially all, of the building be brought up to meet current code standards.

Proposed Town Building Options

  • Using information gathered through the Existing Conditions Report, Arrowstreet developed preliminary options for Town buildings rated fair, poor, or critical, as well as for departments housed in buildings rated good or excellent but where the existing space is not adequate to meet current needs.
  • In developing these options, Arrowstreet considered not only the physical condition and evaluation of each building, but also the operational needs of the departments that use them. Arrowstreet met individually with each department head to better understand current space and facility needs, operational challenges, and anticipated future needs.
  • The Town buildings options will be presented at the October 7 FMP Community Forum & Listening Session.

Key Dates and Next Steps

  • September 18: Release of Existing Conditions Report
  • September 28: FMP Steering Committee meeting
    • Speakers include:
      • Bill McGrady (Building Commissioner) and Chief DeVincent (Fire Chief) to discuss building/ fire codes
      • Bob Stanley (Parks and Recreation Director) to discuss the Dedham Pool
  • October 7: FMP Community Forum & Listening Session
    • Time: 7 p.m.
    • Location: Parks and Recreation Building, 310 Sprague Street
    • Arrowstreet will present potential options, community members will have an opportunity to review them and share feedback.
    • Please note, this meeting will focus on Municipal and Community buildings only; school-building options will not be discussed. Those options are being considered separately by the School Committee and Education Model Subcommittee.
  • October 26 and November 9: FMP Steering Committee meetings
    • Discuss and recommend building options to be included in Arrowstreet’s cost modeling