Northfield Mount Hermon | The Gilder Center

New Academic Center | Gill, Massachusetts

Northfield Mount Hermon was founded by 19th-century evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody as two institutions in 1879 and 1871. It became a single coeducational school in 1971 and consolidated to the Mount Hermon campus in 2005. Today, the school’s distinctive College-Model Academic Program (CMAP) helps students develop not only knowledge about the world, but also a love of learning that will serve them throughout their lifetimes. Through the CMAP, students take three major courses each semester, which adds up to six challenging college-preparatory courses per year.

The new 42,000-square-foot Gilder Center provides flexible, multi-use academic spaces; encourages collaboration and innovation across disciplines; supports the school’s distinctive CMAP; and responds to emerging educational needs over time. With a sustainable design that supports NMH’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint, the Gilder Center is the “greenest” building on campus. The building design honors NMH’s rich architectural history while providing a Silicon Valley-like learning environment. It embraces the overall beauty of the campus as well as specific landscape features, including the nearby Connecticut River. 

Aerial overview of site plan for Gilder Center placement
Exterior with slopped side on the left and to the right 2 floors with vertical windows with glass paneling inbetween both sides. Light blue sky with shadow over building
Exterior entrance with large green grass area lining walkway, autumn trees being and to the side, rolling hills with autumn trees in background
Interior plan for Gilder Center with people, rooms, and windows
Exterior of laboratory with sun reflecting off side tiles. First floor with tall glass panels with sunset clouds behind
Common Area with long tables and lounge chairs, large glass windows to the right, classrooms with windows on first and second floor to left and center
Common Area with long table and chairs, wood siding and paneling on ceiling to the left with students walking though with natural light. Classrooms with large windows in the back and to the right
Interior laboratory with 4 lab tables and view of autumn trees with large vertical paned windows and wood paned ceilings
Students working at computer in breakout room with windows overlooking orange and yellow trees.
Hallway with lounge seating and students reading, working, and walking. Work rooms to the right with glass wall

Project Information

Time Span 2019-2022

Type New Building

Client The Northfield Mount Hermon School

Size 43,500 SF

Design Team David Croteau, Principal-in-Charge; Kelley Banks, Project Manager; Joseph Marshall, Project Architect

Local Architect Riecke Sunnland Kono Architects

Consultants Owner's Project Manager: CSL Consulting; Civil, MEP, Structural: RFS; Landscape: Brown + Sardina

General Contractor Fontaine Bros, Inc

Photographer Robert Benson

Awards

 

AIA New England Architecture Awards - Merit Award (2022)

American School & University’s Architectural Portfolio - Special Citation (2022)

 

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Northfield Mount Hermon | The Gilder Center

New Academic Center | Gill, Massachusetts

Northfield Mount Hermon was founded by 19th-century evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody as two institutions in 1879 and 1871. It became a single coeducational school in 1971 and consolidated to the Mount Hermon campus in 2005. Today, the school’s distinctive College-Model Academic Program (CMAP) helps students develop not only knowledge about the world, but also a love of learning that will serve them throughout their lifetimes. Through the CMAP, students take three major courses each semester, which adds up to six challenging college-preparatory courses per year.

Aerial overview of site plan for Gilder Center placement
Exterior with slopped side on the left and to the right 2 floors with vertical windows with glass paneling inbetween both sides. Light blue sky with shadow over building
Exterior entrance with large green grass area lining walkway, autumn trees being and to the side, rolling hills with autumn trees in background
Interior plan for Gilder Center with people, rooms, and windows
Exterior of laboratory with sun reflecting off side tiles. First floor with tall glass panels with sunset clouds behind
Common Area with long tables and lounge chairs, large glass windows to the right, classrooms with windows on first and second floor to left and center
Common Area with long table and chairs, wood siding and paneling on ceiling to the left with students walking though with natural light. Classrooms with large windows in the back and to the right
Interior laboratory with 4 lab tables and view of autumn trees with large vertical paned windows and wood paned ceilings
Students working at computer in breakout room with windows overlooking orange and yellow trees.
Hallway with lounge seating and students reading, working, and walking. Work rooms to the right with glass wall
Front of Gilder Center with large arch entrance, vertical windows to left and right, columns at top around window panes, 2 arch windows under each roof peak
Time Span 2019-2022
Type New Building
Client The Northfield Mount Hermon School
Size 43,500 SF
Design Team David Croteau, Principal-in-Charge; Kelley Banks, Project Manager; Joseph Marshall, Project Architect
Consultants Owner's Project Manager: CSL Consulting; Civil, MEP, Structural: RFS; Landscape: Brown + Sardina
General Contractor Fontaine Bros, Inc
Photographer Robert Benson
Awards
AIA New England Architecture Awards - Merit Award (2022)
American School & Univeristy’s Architectural Portfolio - Special Citation (2022)