Beaver Country Day School tasked Studio NDP with renovating a single family residence adjacent to the school’s Chestnut Hill campus into an academic building hosting both student and administrative programs. Because the change of use increased the occupancy hazard level, NDP completed a thorough investigation of the building’s existing systems and anticipated energy performance to ensure compliance with state and local codes and zoning regulations. The biggest design challenge was making the public spaces Accessible. The design team tested multiple options and worked closely with the client to land on an approach that balanced cost, timeline, and quality of the interior spaces. The selected strategy was to raise the floor of the previously sunken living room up to the level of the rest of the first floor and adding an accessible route via a ramp and deck. G2 Collective designed an accessible pathway through the woods at the rear of the house to serve as the main route for students and faculty to access the house from campus, effectively making the rear entrance the front. The scope included full building sprinklers and utility upgrades.

The interior reconfiguration included new restrooms, a teaching kitchen, and a variety of classroom and support spaces that maintained the residential feel while performing at an institutional level. A playful and flexible furniture program allows students to make the spaces their own.