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.