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1. What Public Services are housed in the building?

The Department of Public Works (DPW) and Departments of Public Facilities (DPF) moved into the building in July 2009.  Please see the department web pages for contact information.

2. What does the building's LEED Silver certification mean?

The Public Services Building, Lexington's first public building that is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certified, was designed and built to specific environmental standards. Major building features in the LEED scoring categories are:

• Sustainable Sites - good siting and managed traffic flow to reduce impact on the environment and on neighbors.
• Water Efficiency - low-flow water fixtures, rain harvesting to reduce storm runoff, and reuse of water from washing vehicles.
• Energy and Atmosphere - southern exposure uses natural light and heat, room occupancy sensors reduce electricity usage.
• Materials and Resources - pervious pavement for parking spaces; recycled and repurposed building materials include recycled ceramic tile, biocomposite windowsills, recycled carpet, and Forest Services Council-approved lumber.
• Indoor Environmental Quality - natural lighting from windows and skylights.
• Innovation in Design - green roof to insulate from heat and noise and protect roof membrane; dual use of lunchroom as Precinct 8 polling place and conference room as Emergency Operations Center.

3. Are the building's restrooms available to Minuteman Bikeway users?

Yes, during regular office hours: Monday through Friday 7 am to 4:30 pm.

4. Can residents pick up sand & salt at the Public Services Building?

Yes, there is a pickup area on the left side of the driveway.

5. Why was the building needed and how much did it cost?

The old Public Works operations facility at 201 Bedford Street was a converted 1800s-era trolley barn that had not been renovated since 1966. The facility was unsafe and inadequate for modern public works operations.

The DPW Facility Debt Exclusion was approved by the residents on June 5, 2007. The cost of the facility was on budget at $27,500,000, which was $3 million less than the original cost estimate. Groundbreaking on the new facility occurred in November of 2007 and despite some obstacles we were able to occupy the building within the proposed time frame.

6. Who was Samuel Hadley and why was the building named for him?

• Samuel Hadley was born July 9, 1746 and died at age of 29 on April 19, 1775 in the Battle of Lexington.
• Of the 9 Lexington men who died on the Battle Green that day, only Samuel Hadley and John Brown had not had buildings named in their honor.
• Samuel's parents were Benjamin Thomas Hadley and Ruth Lawrence, who was born in Lexington in 1725.
• Benjamin and Ruth had twelve children; four of their six sons were soldiers in the American Revolution.
• The Hadleys were farmers and pioneers who raised livestock for wool and crops such as flax which they wove into fabric.
• They were active members in community life, were prominent in local religious activities and served in a variety of military groups.
• The Hadley family has given more than 125 years in service to Lexington as employees in the Fire, Building, School, and Public Works departments since 1775. Several 7th-generation direct descendants of Benjamin and Ruth have been employed by the Town.