Brewster Academy - Grayson Student Center

Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

Phase III Concept Sketch

The Grayson Student Center restores and enlivens an existing 1954 gymnasium into a multidisciplinary social and performance venue with stunning Lake Winnipesaukee views. The project has been transformative for this private school’s campus, merging multiple programmatic needs into one flexible space. A central gathering and event space is directly supported by a café and commercial kitchen, student collaboration rooms, and a specialty‐use classroom designed to be flexible for events via an operable glass partition. A new second floor was constructed within the former gymnasium space to create a dance studio and black box performance space, which both connect to the Commons via a perimeter mezzanine. The direct and visual connections between these social, practice, and performance programs on multiple levels promote a rich blend of cross‐disciplinary interactions between students and faculty.

The building breathes new life into Brewster Academy's central campus. The project’s early goals were to reuse an existing building rather than build new, which significantly reduced new construction materials. By strategically opening the masonry façade to the lake, adding a second floor into the gymnasium, and improving overall thermal and energy systems, the interior is now a vibrant and accessible space filled with natural light. Exterior louvers shade the large window openings to reduce solar heat gain, while still providing amazing views from almost every space. The Grayson Student Center has become a new hub for activity on campus, bringing the school’s and town’s community together for myriad types of social interactions within a spirit‐lifting and modern space.

Civil Engineer

Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering

Landscape Architect

Klopfer Martin Design Group

Structural Engineer

Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering

Construction Manager

Harvey Construction

MEP/FP Engineering

Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering

Code Consultant

Hastings Consulting

Lighting Designer

Vector Lighting Design

AV Consultant

High Output

Theater Consultant

Martin Vinik Planning for the Arts

Food Service Consultant

RealFood

Zones of Opportunity Realized

Composition

The project originated from a detailed campus master planning process that brought in students, faculty, and experts to identify needs and “Zones of Opportunity” on campus. This culminated in a project that maximized its renovation value to address multiple needs for community gathering, the performing arts, and food service into one project. A senior-level core project team worked with the design team throughout the process, and larger stakeholder groups were brought in to contribute to the design. Sustainable design goals were discussed early in the design. Community need for local group practice and performance space also informed the programmatic requirements.