Manchester, NH – The wood framing is underway for The Derryfield School’s new Gateway Building, located at 2108 North River Road. Lavallee Brensinger Architects is the architect and Pro Con Inc. is the construction manager for the $1.2M project, funded in part through a grant from New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority. The Gateway Building is replacing the Art House, which was formerly located on the site and was razed in early January.
“The foundations and the first floor decking are in place,” stated the project manager for Pro Con Inc. “The wood framing, which is expected to be completed in early May, is progressing quickly and then we will begin the mechanicals and drywall installation.”
The new 8,132-sf Gateway Building, which is considered to be the “front door” to The Derryfield School, was designed and is being constructed using energy efficiency specifications to reduce energy consumption. The 2-level building will have two classroom/seminar spaces, offices for Breakthrough Manchester at The Derryfield School, administrative support space for the school’s community service and global education programs, and improved admission, business office and advancement spaces.
Pro Con, Inc. has scheduled a July 2011 completion date for the Gateway Building. New paved pathways will connect the Gateway Building to the other campus facilities and new rock retaining walls have been constructed.
The Derryfield School in Manchester, New Hampshire is an independent, co-educational and nonsectarian school serving 380 students in grades 6-12. Established in 1964, Derryfield’s students have been widely recognized for their academic and athletic achievements and their volunteer initiatives supporting both local and global communities. A partnership between the Manchester community and The Derryfield School, Breakthrough Manchester was founded at The Derryfield School in 1991 as “Summerbridge Manchester.” In its twentieth year, Breakthrough Manchester is a tuition-free, college-preparatory program for middle and high-school students and a teacher-training program for high-achieving high school and college students. Featuring intensive summer sessions and school-year tutorials and enrichment activities, Breakthrough Manchester has supported the academic success of over 840 Manchester students and recruited, trained, and challenged over 701 college and high-school students from across the city and country to pursue careers in education.
Lavallee Brensinger is one of New England’s premier architectural, planning, and interior design firms. The firm is dedicated to applying its design talent and management expertise to create “places” that enhance quality of life for their clients. The company’s commitment to building vibrant communities has inspired concentration on those building types most essential to thriving community: Healthcare, Education, and Corporate/Civic. The company’s success is based on their steadfast commitment to client service.