First Renderings of CREC Medical Academy Released
By Robin Vinci, Editor at August 26, 2023 | 10:00 am | Print
Antinozzi Associates, PC Architects of Bridgeport and Stantec Consulting Services of Hamden have released the first renderings of what the new Connecticut Region Education Council (CREC) Medical Professions and Teacher Preparation Academy at Pinnacle Heights would look like at a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.
It is to be built on the area known as 34 Marimac Rd.
Information revealed shows the school will be 140,000 square feet holding about 750 students from grades 6-12. About 150 students can be from New Britain. Parking will be both in back and in front of the building.
A soccer field will also be built on the property and the City will be allowed to use it. There is plenty of green space with plans for an Apple Orchard on one side of the building.
“My main concern is what the impact will be on the area,” said Zoning Board of Appeals Commissioner Henry Zembko. “They are shutting down part of Long Swamp Road and the feasibility of the traffic concerns me.”
The project did pass the zoning change allowing the school to be built.
“The overall design may change, but this is the initial plan,” added Zembko. “They feel they are creating a learning corridor in the City.”
E.C. Goodwin Technical School and HALS are the other two schools CREC pointed to in that corridor.
“We are very excited about the prospect of building a magnet school on this site,” said Don Walsh, deputy executive of CREC in June. “This would be one of 15 magnet schools that CREC currently operates.”
Walsh said Mayor (Timothy) Stewart helped them find the site.
“We consider it outstanding for a magnet school,” said Walsh. “We currently have $52 million to do this project and we expect that number to increase.”
The building will hold some rooms that are similar to real operating rooms at a hospital.
