From the 2022 Architectural Portfolio: The Fessenden School, Elfers Center for the Arts

The performing arts center at the Fessenden School in Newton, Mass., needed a renovation that would renew the school’s focus on the arts and support expanding programming. The new Elfers Center for the Arts breathes life into underused spaces and provides new opportunities for the school’s visual and performing arts curriculum. The addition of an entry canopy and an expansive glass stage wall in the 125-seat recital hall revitalizes the exterior façade. Inside, a modernized, 246-seat, tiered theater, new art studios, and multipurpose common areas allow for community engagement. Outdated and underused spaces in the building’s lower level were transformed into classrooms and studios. On the upper floor, reconfigured hallways and a second-floor gallery and exhibition space enable students to showcase their work.

Read more about The Fessenden School, Elfers Center for the Arts and view a photo gallery at SchoolDesigns.com.