2024 Merit Award

WMAIA 2024 Design Awards
MERIT AWARD

Naomi Darling Architecture, South Hadley, MA

The Mandel Sculpture studio is a simple gable roof structure with vertical accent battens that reference the vernacular tobacco barns. The site is located on the north slope and tucked up against an existing tree line to allow for a broad expansive view of the field to the north. The design solution extends the gable roof over an outdoor workspace with a lattice screen within the gable for light, air and openness/enclosure.

Within the studio, the space is divided into a primary workshop, a documentation and exhibition space that can be closed off for total light control, and a storage space. While large windows to the north allow for ample, even daylight, a smaller awning window on the south side allows for a view to the trees and cross ventilation. Large custom doors open into the studio for large materials and to extend the studio to the covered patio space.

Photos by Sean Kernan

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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 4^th 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 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd “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

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