HMFH Architects

The citizens of this remote Cape Cod community had ambitious goals for their new building. They wanted a K-6 school incorporating the latest educational concepts, but they also needed the structure to serve as a community facility, and felt it should reflect the region’s strong architectural heritage.

A portion of the original wooden schoolhouse was saved and incorporated in the new building. Porches, trellises, gabled roofs, cupolas and carefully detailed woodwork reflect the surrounding architectural tradition, but they also provide a residential scale, which is familiar and welcoming to its youngest users.

A ramp unifies classrooms on the upper level and the entry-level community and shared facilities. The ramp’s landing/turning point creates a turret on the exterior of the building, marking the front entry.

The new facilities include four regular classrooms; kindergarten, preschool, and special education classrooms; art and music rooms; facilities for school administration, a new gym/town meeting hall; a cafeteria; a community room; and the new library/media center.