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Arts Complex New Construction and Science Building Renovation

Buxton School (Williamstown, MA)

Winner, Sustainable Design Category | Vermont AIA Design Awards (Science Building)
The new arts complex is nestled on its site and offers outdoor seating and natural daylighting inside.  The group of buildings houses painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, media arts, and graphic design. This 70’s era science building was one of the least liked on campus and in need of attention both inside and out.  To draw students in, we created habitable outdoor spaces, and redirected the main pedestrian path to hug the building’s large windows, exposing the indoor activities to passers-by. On the inside, the new South facing addition is naturally daylit and houses science classrooms, a laboratory and greenhouse.  Sustainable design features reduce the life cycle cost of the facility.  We upgraded the existing building envelope and added heat recovery ventilation to efficiently maintain indoor air quality.  Wood split by work study students is used in the new wood boiler. 

Project Team
Civil Engineer: Guntlow Associates
Structural Engineer: Novelli Engineering
Mechanical Engineer: Kohler and Lewis
Electrical Engineer: EDM
General Contractor: Bedini St. Pierre Contractors
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