Gymnasium and Science Pavilion

Buckingham Friends School, located in historic Bucks County, is a K-8 independent school that shares its campus with the Buckingham Monthly Meeting of Friends.

Situated on 44 acres, its central campus is composed of six academic buildings – the oldest dates from the 1790’s – surrounding a central green. Centerbrook engaged the campus community in master planning workshops to develop an architectural vision that supports their core values of inspiration, integrity, and connection.

Client

Buckingham Friends School

Location Lahaska, PA
Photo Credit Christopher Payne/Esto
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Centerbrook’s new gymnasium and science pavilion are scaled to fit the intimate campus and meet the needs of the school’s forward-thinking curriculum. The gym’s volume is tucked into a hillside, with a single story facing its neighbors and a taller glassy view of the woods and a play area to the north. A CLT and glulam structure brings nature indoors while referencing its predecessor, a well-loved but undersized timber frame gymnasium built in 1952. A new community connector joins the gym to the adjacent arts building currently slated for renovation, and provides an elevator, gender-neutral restrooms, and an educational kitchen for special events.

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The science pavilion, conceived as a modern one-room schoolhouse, welcomes students with a teaching porch outfitted with a natural slate tile “chalkboard”. Simple interior finishes are bathed in natural light by operable skylights and windows overlooking the woods. Rolling maker-style lab tables can be reconfigured for experiments or special projects. Supporting the school’s emphasis on experiential education and creative play, the building ties into an existing trail system where students get their hands dirty with exploratory learning. The pavilion’s entry canopy welcomes students and shares the same simple, but expressive style as a new bus shelter.

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Both buildings are designed to be exemplars of sustainability, reflecting Quaker values of simplicity and stewardship. Playful patterns in the siding, window compositions, and natural materials enhance the biophilic atmosphere. Operable, high-performance windows promote occupant health with natural ventilation and an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system ensures fresh air delivery without energy loss. Finishes and insulation manufactured with minimal environmental impact are used. The science building is fully electric and net-zero ready.

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More Information

Awards

  • Champion of Merit Award, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Eastern Pennsylvania