WMAIA 2024 Design Awards
MERIT AWARD
Jones Whitsett Architects, Inc., Greenfield, MA
Gardner, Massachusetts, sought to consolidate two aging schools from 1926 and 1951 into a single Pre-K through 4th grade facility suitable to meet the district’s educational needs. The preferred site, a wooded area separated by wetlands from the Middle and High School, inspired the design team to create a nature-themed “School in The Woods.”
The school features three wings: a southern Pre-K and Kindergarten wing with dual entries for drop-off and parent access; a central wing housing community spaces like the cafetorium, gymnasium, and library, along with fourth grade; and a northern wing for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd “neighborhoods”.
Classrooms are filled with natural light and views of the treetops and feature exposed structural systems to enhance ceiling height. They are clustered with shared break-out spaces and wide hallways. The design prioritizes circulation with bright, airy stair-towers offering stunning views of the New England landscape, rather than traditional enclosed stairwells.
Photos by Leigh Chodos
