Gardner Elementary School

Exterior of Gardner Elementary, Gardner, MA
*Photography By: Leigh Chodos*

Gardner, MA. | 2022

The City of Gardner combined its elementary school populations, currently located in the Waterford and Elm Street Schools, into a single building serving grades PK–Grade 4 in a new 145,700 gsf school supported by the residents of Gardner and the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The new school is known as the “school in the woods” thanks to it’s unique site on a raised, wooded hilltop with views of the surrounding forests and nearby middle and high school. The new school supports Pre-K through fourth grade students in three connected volumes. The shared cafeteria, library and gymnasium occupy the first floor of the center volume. In this way the building breaks down the grade levels into smaller, age-appropriate learning communities.

The JWA design focuses on relationships to nature. Classrooms enjoy generous views, operable windows, high quality ventilation and non-toxic, healthy, natural materials. Vertical chases and clerestory windows bring daylight into the buildings while an expansive and creative playground emphasizes nature-based play and collaboration. The school was constructed by Bacon Construction over a two year period and opened for use in September 2022. Work continues while the school is occupied. A ribbon cutting is planned for the Spring of 2023.

Area: 145,700 sf
Type: K12 Education

educationDorrie BrooksMarch 22, 2021