Centerbrook Designing for Miss Porter's

CENTERBROOK, Conn. – Centerbrook was selected to design a transformative new building at the prestigious Miss Porter’s School.

Positioned as the social heart of the picturesque campus, the new Community Life Building will consolidate multiple student life functions and become the front door to the school in Farmington, Connecticut.

“Miss Porter’s School is a historic and revered institution and we are honored to collaborate with them on this significant addition to their campus,” said Centerbrook partner Mark Simon, FAIA, the project’s lead architect. “Miss Porter’s has an important mission and a distinct character. We hope this building reflects that and positively impacts students, educators and visitors for generations to come.”

The completion of Community Life Building will provide Miss Porter’s with:

- Functional and social spaces comprised of a dining hall and kitchen, commons encircled with student lounges, a café and a quiet room with a fireplace. Also included are administrative offices and the mail room. All spaces are designed for multi-purpose use.

- A new entrance to the 40-acre campus that will welcome day students and visitors at the perimeter of the grounds, creating a safer and more efficient environment.

- An anchor to the south end of the historic main campus that will create a natural quad centered by beloved Brooks Field.

- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification that aligns with the school’s commitment to sustainable and energy efficient practices.

- A “Women Through Time” interior exhibit that celebrates prominent alumnae, affectionately known as the “Ancients.”

"Centerbrook Architects & Planners have been thoughtful and deliberate in their preparation for design,” said Michael Bergin, Miss Porter’s chief financial and operating officer. “Members of all our constituencies, including alumnae, students, faculty, and parents, have been represented in their on-campus focus groups. In particular, it has been wonderful to hear the students' voices represented in the project."

Groundbreaking for the 22,700-square-foot building is slated for the fall of 2018 to coincide with the school’s 175th anniversary.

This building is the latest in a flurry of recent independent school projects by Centerbrook, including 21 in the last five years that have garnered 10 different design awards.