Montessori School
Independent Coeducational Day School
The existing historic building presented constraints and opportunities and design successfully addresses both. On one hand, existing floor plates necessarily constrained planning and required thoughtful and efficient adaptation. On the other, tall ceilings and windows added a spatial dimension and ambiance unusual in new school design.
The original building is a Daniel Burnham‐designed school.
Sustainable design practices guided the selection of finishes, furnishings and lighting.
Renovations employ a traditional architectural vocabulary to complement the original architecture together with contemporary materials, finishes and furnishings suited to Montessori learning principles. Adaptable spaces, the strategic use of color and common spaces that foster self-discovery give the historic interiors a distinctly Montessori character that promotes freedom of choice, the individual child’s self-confidence and the goal of becoming and independent learner.