St. Paul’s School, one of only six all-boarding schools in the United States, retained ABA for the planning and phased renovations of three facilities on its 1,800-acre campus. Addressing the school’s recently updated strategic and master plans, ABA’s master plan noted that the campus was underserved by student amenities and had no “common ground” where faculty and students could informally gather. Campus art studios, while popular, were small, deteriorated, and dispersed, limiting collaboration, visibility, and flexibility. The existing gallery was not climate-controlled, offered no views, and had limited access.

Subsequent renovations designed by ABA upgraded the Freeman Center, Moore Building, and Hargate Building, relocating the Visual Arts Program and the Art Gallery and creating a new Community Center. Campus arts programming includes galleries, art studios, classrooms, a lecture hall, offices, and meeting spaces. The new Community Center offers students a place to gather and features a café and student services. A new Arts Walk between these buildings links to the adjacent drama and performing arts buildings, uniting the school’s arts facilities and providing space for art display and functions.

Location: Concord, New Hampshire

Project Team: Ann Beha FAIA, Jason Bowers AIA, Ashley Merchant AIA (ABA); LeMessurier (Structural); Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering (MEP / FP); Halvorson Design Partnership (Landscape); VHB (Civil); Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting (Lighting); Acentech (Acoustics); Jensen Hughes (Code); Kalin Associates, Inc. (Specifications)