International Architecture Awards Tell a friend
ARCHIVE 2024
International Architecture Awards
Architects: Centerbrook Architects and Planners
Lead Architects: Mark Simon and Agatha Pestilli
General Contractor: O&G Industries, Inc.
Client: Miss Porter's School
Photographers: Peter Aaron/OTTO
The iconic entry building at Miss Porter's School, 60 Main St. is beloved by generations of alumnae and the surrounding community. While it needed renewal to better serve modern-day life, the project team took great pains to preserve and enhance the historic character of the esteemed all-girls preparatory school's original home. Built in 1831 as a hotel, the building was purchased by the school in 1866.
It housed the head of school's office, staff and student support offices, student lounges, and dorm rooms. Known around campus simply as Main, it was expanded 50 years ago to accommodate a dining hall and kitchen. This renewal project relocates a historic staircase in the original building to widen the corridor from the main entrance to the dining hall. The dining hall was expanded by 40-percent to seat 400, which enables sit-down dinners for the entire school.
The west end enjoys floor-to-ceiling glass for an expansive view of surrounding hills and the ceremonial central campus lawn. Shutter-like louvers shade the setting western sun while still providing indirect light. Lounge chairs there offer a daylight-permeated hangout when the floor space isn't required for full capacity dining. Original iron chandeliers and new column recesses have been fitted with LED bulbs for energy conservation. The existing kitchen and servery additions were removed and rebuilt, expanding the kitchen by 30-percent.
The servery was doubled in size with a new exhibition-style design to improve flow during busy mealtimes. The building's expansion also includes a new lower lounge and covered colonnade with stunning western views like the dining hall above. The lounge doubles as an art gallery and generous lobby for the community coming from across central campus. It features benches and stools constructed from a beloved tree that was removed to make way for the addition.
Modern on the interior, the exterior remains true in style to the original icon, to welcome its community from both front and back with the same dignity. The project started at the conclusion of the 2019-20 school year and was completed in the spring of 2021.
