Foster Elementary is a new 126,385 sq. ft. school designed for Hingham’s Pre-K-5 program for up to 605 students and built on an occupied site. The existing building had a litany of issues, including outdated mechanical systems and educational spaces unable to accommodate the needs of students in the 21st century. The new school has space for the expanded Integrated PreK, Kids in Action, and the Special Education programs. The design also addresses a District-wide need for administrative space, athletic fields, a gymnasium with room for spectators, and event and performance space. Each grade level is grouped as a “neighborhood” with common space for collaborative grade-level educational and project-based activities and provides much needed space for SPED and KIA administrative offices. This highly energy efficient school is all electric, net zero ready, and has ground source heat pumps. The $113 million school opened in 2024.