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Master Facilities Plan

STEAM Commons rendering

In September 2021 Whitfield's Board of Trustees approved a Master Facilities Plan that will not only improve the physical plant, but, as it rolls out over time, will create additional opportunities for collaboration and innovation. The plan strengthens Whitfield's culture by creating common spaces throughout the facility for student interaction, and strategically adding classrooms to bring every academic department together to support faculty collaboration. As this plan maximizes our spaces, it will maximize teaching and learning.

MASTER FACILITIES PLAN PROJECTS

The school retained Christner Architects in the fall of 2019 to prepare a Master Facilities Plan (a priority of the most recent Strategic Plan). Through research and focus groups with students, administrators and faculty, a comprehensive plan emerged that extends throughout the physical plant. The Master Plan is divided into four projects outlined here. The Board of Trustees has prioritized the STEAM Wing as it aligns most readily with additional goals of the Strategic Plan.

Entryway Experience
 
Additional administrator offices, student commons, expanded and updated dining hall and kitchen.
Humanities Expansion 
 
Classroom improvements, student services office suite, large stairwell to connect the first floor and garden level, collaborative spaces.
STEAM Wing
 
New science labs and other classroom improvements, an updated art space, STEAM Commons along new façade.
Woods Hall Renovation 
 
Fixed seating for 600, enhanced AV and projection, a permanent stage option with proscenium wall.
Rendering of Lobby

ENTRYWAY EXPERIENCE

This conceptual rendering offers a view from the front door (double-doored vestibule providing increased energy efficiency and safety). Behind the new reception area would be an office suite for the Head of School. Past the reception on the right is a student commons area.

Rendering of Humanities commons

HUMANITIES WING & GARDEN LEVEL CONNECTOR

This view of the slender addition along the East façade of the building shows a second hallway in the humanities wing designed to increase traffic flow and provide small-group collaboration space.  The reorganization and expansion of the wing brings together all the humanities classrooms (English, social studies, world languages), anchored by a Student Services office suite and the Garden Level Connector--a monumental stairwell that connects the first floor to the garden level.

Rendering of STEAM Wing exterior

STEAM WING

Similar to the proposed Humanities Commons, another slender addition will create more collaboration space for students, allow for the enlargement of existing classrooms, and accommodate two new science class-labs with support space. The art area would also receive a much-needed facelift.  

Rendering of Woods Hall

WOODS HALL RENOVATION

Two plans are proposed for Woods Hall. The first, shown here, includes fixed seating for 600, enhanced AV and projection. A raised stage with a proscenium wall would enable a theatrical curtain to conceal the rear stage area. The permanent stage necessitates construction of an additional gymnasium. A second option maintains a flexible stage so the floor can be used for athletic programming as it is today.

FIRST PROJECT: GARDEN LEVEL CONNECTOR

GARDEN LEVEL CONNECTOR

Construction: Winter 2021-22

Whitfield is thrilled to begin construction on its first Master Facility Plan project: the Garden Level Connector. Construction on this project will begin in November 2021 and is expected to take twelve weeks. 

Stonehenge

The Humanities Commons, or, “Stonehenge,” will be re-imagined.  This exciting construction project will physically transform our school facility.  (This photo shows the current view of the space. )

Monumental Stair

The floor will be removed and replaced with a new monumental stair with integrated tiered seating. This new access will provide a major upgrade to the connectivity between the main level and the garden level.

Open Classroom

The tiered seats provide comfortable capacity for 50 students enabling this part of the school to serve as an open classroom, or meeting area for faculty and student groups.

Enhanced AV

Two digital screens and a rear-projected drop-down screen will allow for an enhanced audio-visual experience. The space is set-up to support myriad uses from information and announcement sharing to multi-media presentations.

Student Commons

At the Garden level, modifications to existing interior walls enable the Connector to seamlessly transition to shared open collaboration space or commons. Beyond the shared open collaboration space, the project will  transition outside onto a new terrace (planned for summer 2022).

Capital Support
While we have not launched a formal campaign at this time, we have reviewed these plans with a small number of individuals to get feedback and garner support.  We will initiate more conversations in the year ahead, and hope to secure leadership gifts to move many projects from the design phase to the implementation phase. If you would like to learn more about the Master Plan, and/or are considering a financial investment in Whitfield's campus, please reach out to Director of Institutional Advancement Emily Klimek or Director of Development Kelly Edwards and they would be glad to meet with you.