Wiemann Lamphere Architects was charged with assisting the community in studying options to renovate and add to each of the existing two schools or to consolidate the two into one unified  K-8 school.  WLA analyzed each building and each site, prepared space programs for the various options and prepared a cost comparison for these various options.

Following the failure of the planned Regional Vocational Technical Center in 2005, The Center for Technology, Essex, took it up itself to upgrade the status and accreditation of its vocational programs on the campus of Essex High School.  These were incorporated into its "One Campus" master planning and "20/20" vision for the future.

A master plan was developed for the Colchester School District recommending the closing of the Union Memorial and Porters Point Elementary Schools, building an addition to Malletts Bay Elementary School for kindergarten through second grades, converting the existing middle school into third through fifth grade space, and constructing a new middle school on 100 acres of owned land at Colchester High School.

Additions and renovations to the Malletts Bay Elementary School include:

•  New windows and roof insulation

•  Two additional classroom wings

The school’s historic 130,000 square foot structure was deficient in handicap accessibility and other regulatory requirements.  The hospital building, which was built in 1890, needed to be renovated to meet the school’s space needs as well as ADA requirements.  WLA provided a feasability study determining measures that needed to be taken in order to meet today’s educational requirements.

WLA’s design included a new media center, science department, business education department, cafeteria, kitchen, art department, and administrative offices.  The former hospital building was rehabilitated to meet program requirements.  The two buildings are connected by a landscaped walkway created by closing a city street.