Advancing Education with Quality Design
Citation Award // Excellence in Architectural Design - Commercial / Institutional
Architect // Lavallee Brensinger Architects
GC // KCTA Construction Co., Inc.
Engineer – Structural // Foley Buhl Roberts and Associates
Engineer – Civil // Nitsch Engineering
Engineer – MEP // Consulting Engineering Services
Engineer – FP // Robert W. Hall Consulting Engineers
Landscape Architect // Terraink
Sustainability / Green Design // Thornton Tomasett
Acoustics // Acentech
Description
Conceived as a built expression of modern teaching and learning, the 900-student Swampscott Elementary School balances community scale with educational ambition. The design creates smaller learning neighborhoods within a larger facility, fostering belonging while supporting equitable access to academic and specialized programs. Sustainable, adaptable, and deeply connected to its community, the school is designed to inspire learning, empower educators, and serve Swampscott for the next 50 to 75 years.
Jury Comments
This project received a Citation Award in recognition of its thoughtful response to an evolving educational model and its strong commitment to equity, inclusivity, and accessibility. The jury particularly commended the integration of specialized services, the clustering of classrooms with support spaces, and the creation of student commons that serve as a social anchor within the school community. The carefully organized interior, layered program, and circulation strategies create meaningful connections between learning environments while balancing public and private spaces, promoting interaction, visual connectivity, and student-centered engagement, clearly supporting the project's design intent.
Photo credit: Blind Dog Photography