Greenfield Center School receives recognition for architectural design

By Mary Byrne

Recorder Reporter

11/6/2022

GREENFIELD — After taking the last year to settle into their new building, Greenfield Center School administrators are celebrating the school’s recognition as an “outstanding project” by Learning By Design.

The project, which Banwell Architects submitted for consideration, was awarded an Outstanding Project Award by Learning By Design, which showcases the best educational facilities.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Head of School Isabel “Charlie” Spencer. “We worked really hard as a community to dream up that building, and Banwell Architects really … deserve that award because they were such good listeners. Really, what we hoped would happen turned out more functional and beautiful than expected.”

In summer 2021, faculty and staff moved into the new school at 741 Bernardston Road and began preparing for their first year in the 23,678-square-foot building. The 30-acre property, once home to a veterinary practice, offers the students and teachers more space than at the former Montague City Road campus, which was sold to architect David Zaccheo.

The project was judged by a jury of education design professionals and blind peer-reviewed, according to a Center School press release. The jury looked for unique qualities or new concepts that were successfully implemented to improve education and social outcomes through the facility’s overall design.

“I really think (the award) had to do with the fact we were trying to do some things that were really kid-oriented,” Spencer commented. “The architects really paid attention to that. There was a really interesting combination of whimsy — the bookcases that move — and practicality, like having an all-school room that fits everyone, and nice wide hallways so kids can spread out and move freely.”

Spencer said the architecture firm, which designs more than one school per year, applied for the award.

“I think the fact they chose ours to submit really speaks to the uniqueness of the Center School project,” she said.

Spencer offered congratulations to the firm for being a “terrific” team to work with during a global pandemic.

“I think their partnership with DEW Construction really made the work seamless at a time when I think few building projects were having that experience,” she said.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.

Read the story here: https://www.recorder.com/Center-School-receives-recognition-for-architectural-design-48566954