The original farmhouse, or “Old Main” building was home to the entire school of six students in 1906. Over the years the house has undergone a series of evolutions; originally it formed the core of a wood framed, white clapboard campus complex that was subsequently replaced by the brick Georgian campus, initiated in the 1920s and continuing to the present day. In 1960, the building was moved down the hill to its current location near the main entrance to the campus.

The renovation to the original 2,500-square foot Admissions Building includes new windows, siding, roof, insulation, interior finishes, and sprinklers. The renovated space features a welcoming new waiting area, a large new conference room, a new multi-level open stairway and elevator. The new 2,500-square foot two-story addition connects to the existing building with an elegant porch and patio, reflective of the school’s period architectural style.

The original historic campus did not have any built choral and instrumental, instructional or performance space, with the needs being only partially met in substandard facilities. This program was clearly seen as an important component in the School’s mission of “cultivating young men,” as it looked to expand the performing arts offerings in response to student demand. In addition, an all-school assembly space was needed that would also have the right scale for the younger performers. Adding new construction to the campus was also challenging, given the design strength of the historic campus fabric.

The Performing Arts Center was first conceived during the Campus Master Plan, including both programming as well as identifying the most appropriate location on this intimate campus for what would become one of the School’s largest new facilities. The Center takes a commanding but respectful position on the School’s Village Green across from historic buildings. A strong tower form establishes the main entrance and along with the use of cast stone, dormers and slate roof, complements the original campus architecture.

The performance venue for 500, provides effective space, functionally and acoustically, for a variety of school activities as well as an attractive hall for outside performers. The new spaces provide an ease of flow between this building and the adjacent student center, a signature performance venue, and a full complement of group rehearsal and individual practice spaces that has allowed the program to grow exponentially.

The integrated design-build team collaborated to resolve numerous site challenges including flooding, poor soil-bearing capacity, limited site access and protected wildlife. The team incorporated into the design a 300 foot long, ten foot high stone structural retaining wall to act as a flood wall during and after construction. With scheduled sequencing and overlapping trades, construction was completed two and a half months ahead of the original schedule allowing the school to utilize the dormitory for the fall semester.

A funding delay pushed the start date by three months. SLAM’s design and construction team expedited design, scheduled sequencing and overlapped trades to deliver the project two and a half months ahead of schedule, meeting a fall semester occupancy date and $512,405 under budget. The resulting design in response to the site challenges produced a timeless and beautiful work of architecture that responds to the schools mission, programmatic needs and environment.

The Campus Master Plan needed to address the current needs in various programmatic areas including academics, arts, athletics, student services and facility support, while expanding the grade configuration to include Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten and incorporating a modest enrollment increase to approximately 470 students. The school also wanted to upgrade and expand student and faculty housing, create a new main entrance to the school, organize vehicular circulation, and strengthen the campus organization, especially pedestrian routes and gathering places. The Master Plan also needed to integrate a major acquired property onto the campus.

The three-phase process included an assessment of the existing conditions, needs assessment, and master planning. The Master Plan established a major pedestrian walkway called “Fay Street”, created a new residential quad with smaller scale “village dorms” on the acquired property, developed a new primary school, and added a new main entrance. The vehicular circulation located along the perimeter accommodates an on-site car line for student drop-off and pick-up. Additionally, the Master Plan used sustainability best practices and provided an on-site waste water treatment.

The Master Plan established a new residential village that would allow for the first two dorms to be set into an overall design for a student-centered village of five dorms. Each dorm was positioned to actively engage a village green while providing a clearly defined pedestrian “main street” connection to the balance of the campus.

Two renovated wings are anchored by a new three-story addition, inspired by the traditional New England meeting house, which houses a multi-purpose commons/media space, science labs and maker space as a well as a new entry lobby. The renovated areas encompass an elegant double-height dining room (formerly a gym), classrooms and administrative functions. A beautiful wood ceiling, using repurposed trees from the site, enriches the pre-function area adjacent to the dining room and supports the school commitment to sustainability. The classroom wing integrates state-of-the-art collaborative learning interstitial spaces. Natural daylight, fun colors, exposed systems, and writable colored walls make learning exciting and accessible everywhere.

The commons doubles as a media center, providing multiple functions including a library, special event/presentation area, and technology hub. Built-in bookcases and a blue glow coffered ceiling provide a relaxed living room feel to the versatile space. The new entrance lobby and lounge area, with its open stair, reclaimed wood wall and cozy stone fireplace creates a warm and inviting first impression.

The “Meeting House on the Hill” represents both a new beginning and a reverence for tradition for the upper school campus. Admissions have met and exceeded expectations. The school has experienced a new method of teaching that has empowered students and teachers alike. The diverse teaching environments serve the different levels of individual student progress. The connection between classrooms, both visually and physically, improves the interactions with other teachers and students. It was important to create a sense of community, and the commons and dining room helped to accomplish this goal. Learning and sustainability are ubiquitous.    

Kent School needed to update and expand their Music and Arts program spaces within existing and buildings that weren’t connected physically. An affordable alternative to building new was the renovation of an existing theater and the utilization of an older dorm located on an upper floor of an adjacent building. The challenge was to renovate these spaces to meet programmatic needs and to connect them in such a way as to be cohesive.

The complexity of converting a 1930’s double-loaded corridor dormitory into an acoustic music and practice space posed many challenges.

This project presented many construction and sequencing challenges. SLAM took on the task of managing an extremely invasive project for a facility that needed to provide uninterrupted service to the school. With SLAM’s unique delivery approach, our design-build team anticipated these challenges and incorporated design solutions, where applicable, into the bid documents. SLAM developed a phasing and sequencing plan that would address project constraints. It was most important to detail the sequencing within the bid documents to allow contractors a full understanding of the project expectations.

As an integrated team, SLAM designed and sequenced the construction utilizing existing buildings within an occupied campus. The design solution produced a new gallery space and lobby that serves as an interior link between the Dining Hall Building that houses the Music Rooms and the Auditorium Building.

SLAM’s in-house estimating team worked closely with our designers since they were a short walk within our building. In SLAM’s approach, we embedded our estimator with the designers to allow a continuous flow of information to pass between them as systems were being considered and designed.

The SLAM team designed and renovated the existing auditorium and support spaces, including upgrades to stage area, the house, and the lobby, resulting in an award-winning multi-functional space for 350-people used for music, theater, lectures, and movies. The design also features a large lobby and gallery sized to accommodate receptions and beautiful new music practice rooms within the trussed second floor roof line.