OPAL is pleased to report that construction on the new School building for Waring School, in Beverly, MA, has begun. OPAL partners Matt O’Malia and Timothy Lock and project manager Alexandra Pagán traveled to the school’s campus on Feb. 24 to join the Waring community in a groundbreaking ceremony featuring song, remarks by Head of School Timothy Bakland and Beverly Mayor Jaime Campos, and students lifting dirt with some very shiny shovels.
Waring is a private, liberal arts and sciences school for students in grades 6 through 12, and the new building will reflect the school’s unique culture and traditions. Serving as a gateway to the campus and bridging a steep grade that separates its lower and upper sections, it incorporates classrooms, offices, and the Grand Salle—an entry, coat room, and informal gathering place for the entire student body.
A key feature of the design is the All School Meeting Room, where students, faculty, and staff will assemble daily in a tradition that reinforces the school’s strong sense of community. Our design locates the All School Meeting Room at a central hinge point in the L-shaped floor plan, with expansive windows overlooking the lower campus.
OPAL’s certified Passive House designer, Michael Bailey is coordinating with third-party certifier Peel Passive House to ensure that the new School building meets the Passive House standard for energy efficiency and indoor air quality, achieving near-net-zero energy performance. Completion is projected for January 2021, with Passive House Institute US certification to follow. Read more about this project.
