Monthly Archives: June 2019

Groundbreaking: The Ursuline School

Eileen Davidson, President, Rev. Msgr. Dennis P. Keane, Trustee, Ann Gillin Lefever, Board Chair and Trustees: Deirdre McCaffrey, JoAnn Murphy, Sheila Sohr, Kathleen Long, Belinda Palmer, Karina Gomez Verni, Teresa Jankovic, Steve Abbattista, John Mulligan

The Ursuline School, an independent Catholic college preparatory school for girls in New Rochelle, NY, held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 20, 2019 marking the beginning of the first phase of their Innovation Campaign. The goal of the campaign, which slogan is  Building on the Tradition of Innovation #TUSTimeIsNow, is to build active learning spaces and community gathering areas so that the school’s leading-edge teaching is matched with outstanding facilities.

The 18-month construction project follows an extensive master planning process that explored multiple design options for building 21st Century learning environments, improving generally campus functionality and enhancing the overall campus security. The project will add a new Lobby, Innovation Hub, High-Tech Conference Room and Student Commons.

The new 2,370sf Lobby will create an iconic entry and a larger gathering space and facilitate in an easier drop-off and pick-up for students. A security booth will enhance student safety and a new admissions office area, Ann Clemente Admissions Suite, will provide a fresh face to prospective and future students. The Lobby will also include more functional administration offices, a bookstore and three conference rooms for student and faculty use.

The new Lobby and the Innovation Hub will frame the inner courtyard and mimic the curvature of the existing landscaping, wrapping the courtyard with a glass front. Not only will the Innovation Hub, a 2,070sf “makerspace,” support the school’s robotics, engineering and computer science programming, the new space will allow students across the curriculum to combine technology with hands-on constructing. The Innovation Hub will be staffed with a STEAM educator and equipped with cutting-edge equipment and capabilities.

Adjacent to the Innovation Hub, a 780sf, 40 seat, high-tech conference room will function as a seminar-style classroom, meeting and rehearsal space. The space will be equipped with leading edge technology and modern furnishings. The space is designed to help prepare Ursuline students for college and the workplace.

The new Student Commons, Christina Jun Murphy Commons, will be a 1650sf bright and open 130-seat modern and comfortable space for eating, doing homework and spending time with friends. The added cafeteria space will be a walk-through space on the other side of the corridor from the existing cafeteria.

“KG+D is proud to partner with The Ursuline School to complete this important project,” said Russell Davidson, FAIA President of KG+D Architects, “The new addition will transform the front of the school and make the school’s exterior match the sophisticated learning on the interior.”

The Innovation Hub is planned to be the first space completed for January 2020 with the entire build complete by December 2020.

Groundbreaking: Hutchinson Elementary School

Pictured Left to Right: Jordana Viuker Brennan, Confident Buildings, KG+D team members Susan Davidson, Walter Hauser, Patrick Meaney, Marissa Alicea, Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent – Pelham UFSD, KG+D team members Russell Davidson, Sarah Weissman Dirsa and Ryan Carper.

The Pelham Union Free School District held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 21, 2019 marking the beginning of construction for the replacement Hutchinson Elementary School. Following a two-year planning process that explored options for renovation vs. replacement, the District and the community elected to develop a next generation elementary school.

The design solution is a balance between a contemporary and traditional approach that creates a modern and progressive learning environment while allowing the new building to fit into the neighborhood and the aesthetic of the older buildings in the community. The 68,0000sf community school will have a central learning commons and MakerSpace surrounded by two floors of flexible classroom space with break out “front porch” space and adjacent small collaboration “pods” that extend learning and collaboration beyond the classroom.

The learning commons, gym and cafeteria are configured together in order to allow for community access after school hours and during the summer without compromising the security of the classroom areas. A single main entry located at the circulation loop and adjacent to the main office will have a secure vestibule and a dedicated security booth.

Outdoor spaces include a kindergarten play area, student garden and outdoor dining and gathering space. Following the construction of the new elementary school, athletic fields and a play space will be completed on the site of the former elementary school.

The building has also been designed to LEED Silver Standards and will utilize natural light, LED lighting, a green roof and efficient water and heating systems.

“KG+D is proud to partner with the Pelham Union Free School District to fulfill the promise made to the community,” said Russell Davidson, FAIA President of KG+D Architects, “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate on the development of a 21st Century building in a District committed to 21st Century learning.”

The work immediately commencing will include necessary site work which will continue into the fall of 2019 with construction of the building itself anticipated in winter 2019-20 with targeted completion and opening for September 2022.