West Palm Beach, FLA – HMFH Architects has recently completed the design of two new buildings for Palm Beach Day Academy in collaboration with Tercilla Courtemanche Architects of West Palm Beach. The new buildings expand the school’s Lower Campus in West Palm Beach for approximately 300 pre-kindergarten through third grade students and will aid Florida’s oldest independent school in establishing groundbreaking educational techniques within functional, modern facilities.
Following a rigorous public approval process for the team’s proposed designs, the project has successfully transitioned to an active capital campaign. “We are very excited to begin fundraising for our expanded facility which will house an innovative educational program, inspired by Italy’s Reggio Emilia approach, which encourages experiential learning,” said Dr. Becky van der Bogert, head of school for Palm Beach Day Academy. “The preliminary designs by HMFH Architects and Tercilla Courtemanche Architects embody our vision for creating academic environments that compliment this innovative program.”
The unusual design of the new buildings will blend seamlessly with the architectural character of the region, borrowing from the area’s familiar Art Deco style while giving the campus a strong identity and unique presence along the Intracoastal Waterway it overlooks. The two-story, 24,000 SF academic building contains pre-kindergarten classrooms as well as an art and science room, administrative space, a computer lab, a library, International Studies rooms and the Teacher Resource Center. The second structure will house a multifunctional art gallery, athletic and performance space. The team’s comprehensive approach to design struck a perfect balance of form and function, ensuring the new facilities also meet local hurricane code requirements and an extensive planning board review process that addressed building height, exterior façade design, colors, landscaping, traffic control, and site circulation. The new buildings will replace a former church and an older portion of the current school.
“The design of these new academic buildings evolved from a series of educational, community, historical, economic and climatic requirements,” said Mario Torroella, AIA, design principal at HMFH Architects. “Visual and pedestrian access between Olive Avenue and South Flagler Drive is maintained and the new design relates to the school’s existing building through the use of common architectural details and climatic control solutions.”