Cotting School Celebrates Opening of New Athletics Center

Lexington, MA – Cotting School, a private, non-profit school committed to enabling students with special needs to achieve their highest learning potential and level of independence, announced today the completion of its new Campus Center on the school’s Concord Avenue campus and its Oct. 16 grand opening ceremony.

The 25,000sf addition houses a full, regulation-sized gymnasium for basketball and other sports, an ADA-compliant candlepin bowling alley, and a two-story, fully accessible rock climbing wall. It also offers two new classrooms for performing and visual arts, music, filmmaking, photography, and other arts programs. A new social studies classroom on the lower floor provides extra space for teaching and learning.

The facility is designed to maximize educational and physical activity opportunities for Cotting School’s 120 students who come from more than 70 New England communities. It will increase opportunities for Cotting students, families, faculty, and staff to get together and enjoy sports, recreation, and other activities.

Designed by ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge and built by Erland Construction Inc., the Campus Center was funded through a two-year, $10 million capital campaign. Cotting is proceeding with a next phase of renovations that will reconfigure and relocate the transition and vocational, occupational and physical therapy, technology, and library spaces to increase flexibility and support best-practices curriculum innovations, including small-group and differentiated instruction.

Cotting School President and Executive Director Bridget Irish, M.B.A., S.P.H.R., said: “Our athletic programs are one of the most important ways we promote social connection, community, and wellness for our students. We had known for years we needed a larger, modernized, and more accessible athletic center to meet our students’ and families’ needs. The new Campus Center is transforming how Cotting can meet the unique needs of students with a broad spectrum of learning and communication disabilities, physical challenges and complex medical conditions through integrated services, including our vibrant physical education program.”

David W. Manzo, who retired last month after serving for 17 years as Cotting’s president, said, “Cotting’s board, Bridget, and I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone who participated in the campaign that has made this beautiful, welcoming facility available to Cotting’s students and our community. This state-of-the-art addition will increase the opportunity for more Cotting School students to grow in independence, which is central to our mission and our history.”

Mr. Manzo and campaign supporters will be honored at a special invitation-only ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, October 16.

About Cotting School
Established in 1893 in Boston, Cotting School was America’s first school for children with physical disabilities. It has evolved to meet the unique needs of students with a broad spectrum of learning and communication disabilities, physical challenges and complex medical conditions. Located in Lexington since 1988, the school creates an inclusive community while providing an array of integrated services that foster academic achievement, skill development, and social-emotional maturity. Day and residential training programs are designed to enable students to realize their highest potential both during and after their enrollment.