The Upper School and Administration Building is the final and most significant phase in The Haverford School's fifteen-year master plan, redefining the School's identity along the front edge of campus and housing three programs: Administration, the Upper School, and Severinghaus Library. The restoration and expansion meets the educational needs of ... read more

The Upper School and Administration Building is the final and most significant phase in The Haverford School's fifteen-year master plan, redefining the School's identity along the front edge of campus and housing three programs: Administration, the Upper School, and Severinghaus Library. The restoration and expansion meets the educational needs of information-age students and serves as a teaching-tool for environmental responsibility.

Built in 1903, Wilson Hall was the founding building of the campus and is the most important physical symbol of Haverford's long tradition. Originally slated for demolition, the restored historic stone building now houses the School's central administration, and is integrated with the prominent new brick and glass wing of the Upper School.

With the aim of creating a lively academic community that encourages interaction between students, teachers and administrators, the design of the Upper School is centered along a generous circulation spine conceived to capture the energy and vitality of a 'village street'. Wrapped in glass curtain wall and flooded with natural light, the street contains an array of informal gathering areas, paneled meeting pods, open computer stations, study nooks, and exhibition spaces.

New teaching spaces include an outdoor terrace for studio arts, a stone and grass amphitheater, classrooms with multimedia capabilities, science and research laboratories, art studios, a 240-seat auditorium and a multi-purpose community room. The two-story Severinghaus Library establishes a permanent place for Upper School and Middle School students to study and collaborate in a technologically advanced environment. In Wilson Hall, the high-ceiling Big Room is a high-tech distance learning classroom and boardroom.

The Upper School and Administration Building is LEED Gold Certified, incorporating many strategies to minimize the building's carbon footprint and create a healthy environment for learning. It launches the School's heightened commitment to sustainable practice across campus. Deeply integrated into the building's design and construction are specialized meters and controls, providing students and teachers real-time feedback on energy and water usage.

Excellence in Planning & Design, The Montgomery Awards; 2009
Green Project of the Year, Mid-Atlantic Construction; 2008

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