Charles River School | Middle School

New Grade 6–8 Facility | Dover, Massachusetts

The new middle school classroom building provides a facility that supports the project-based and student-centered teaching that is at the heart of the Charles River School Program. Located in the town center of Dover, MA, the building sits across the street from the Town Hall. In response, the front facade is designed to fit into the historic town center context, with traditional board and batten siding and double-hung windows. Facing the rear, into the school, however, the building takes a more contemporary forms, with a 2-story wood-framed glass wall revealing a large common gathering area in the center of the building. Eight classrooms as well as breakout rooms, a faculty room, and a kitchen, open onto this central space, which features an amphitheater-style seating area.

View from stadium seats with second floor walkway to the right, and natural wood beams on the ceiling
Back view of building with large windows and people walking in with blue sky behind
Interior corridor with stairs to the right and second floor walkway above, windows on ceiling with natural light coming in
View of ceiling with large natural wood beams and windows on the left
Stadium seating with staircase and second floor balcony to the left

Project Information

Time Span 2016–2019

Type New Grade 6–8 Facility

Client Charles River School

Size 13,000 square feet

Cost $6.8 million

Design Team David Croteau, Principal-in-Charge; Jenni Katajamäki, Project Manager; Joseph Marshall, Project Architect

Consultants Meridian Associates (Civil Engineer); Brown + Sardina (Landscape Architect); Bala Consulting Engineers (MEP Engineer); Roome & Guarracino (Structural Engineer); LAB [3.2] Architecture (Interior Architect)

General Contractor Bowdoin Construction

Photographer Robert Benson

Videographer Raber Umphenour

Awards AIA New England Architecture Awards - Merit Award (2023)

 

BSA Educational Facilities Design Awards (2019)

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Charles River School

New Grade 6–8 Facility

The New Middle School Classroom Building provides a facility that supports the project-based and student-centered teaching that is at the heart of the Charles River School Program. Located in the town center of Dover, MA, the building sits across the street from the Town Hall. In response, the front facade is designed to fit into the historic town center context, with traditional board and batten siding and double-hung windows.

Back view of building with large windows and people walking in with blue sky behind
Interior corridor with stairs to the right and second floor walkway above, windows on ceiling with natural light coming in
View of ceiling with large natural wood beams and windows on the left
Exterior view of building with white siding and symmetrical windows and tree to the right expanding over top of photo
Floor to ceiling windows on the side of building at night with dark blue sky above
Time Span 2016–2019
Type New Grade 6–8 Facility
Client Charles River School
Size 13,000 square feet
Cost $6.8 million
Design Team David Croteau, Principal-in-Charge; Jenni Katajamäki, Project Manager; Joseph Marshall, Project Architect
Consultants Meridian Associates (Civil Engineer); Brown + Sardina (Landscape Architect); Bala Consulting Engineers (MEP Engineer); Roome & Guarracino (Structural Engineer); LAB [3.2] Architecture (Interior Architect)
General Contractor Bowdoin Construction
Photographer Robert Benson
Videographer Raber Umphenour
Awards
BSA Educational Facilities Design Awards (2019)
AIA New England Architecture Awards - Merit Award (2023)