New Facilities at The Derryfield School
Derryfield Campus
New Facilities at Derryfield
A SUCCESSFUL BUILDING PARTNERSHIP
When undertaking a major building and renovation project, it’s helpful if the construction firm leading the effort has some knowledge of the client’s culture. “I know the school from the inside-out — it was a very special project for me,” says Eckman Construction Vice President Preston Hunter, a 1998 graduate of the school.
THINKING FORWARD
The Athletic and Wellness Center includes three regulation-sized basketball courts as well as a movement studio, cardio room, weight training area and locker room, and training room spaces. “As a day school, Derryfield felt that being able to provide a facility that would allow teams to practice on a normal schedule and still get home in time for dinner was a real priority.”
The Science and Innovation Center, designed to serve as an incubator for innovation, creativity, and exploration, includes three wet labs, two dry labs, a maker-space, robotics lab, inspiration lounge, and an audio/video production studio. “The Science and Innovation Center really expands the capabilities of the school from an instructional standpoint,” Hunter says. “It includes flexible spaces for teamwork and the pursuit of project-based learning initiatives.
Eckman worked to include a number of green initiatives in the process, including an extensive solar array on the roof of the Athletic and Wellness Center. Both buildings, delivered on time and under budget, were handed over to the school in early November. “There’s nothing better than leaving a lasting mark on a place like Derryfield.” Hunter says. “Derryfield has always been known for its outstanding education and a great sense of community, but now it has the facilities that put it on par with that instruction. There’s a real sense of pride and excitement and a feeling that the sky’s the limit as far as what can be created there.”