Greenwich, RI – East Greenwich High recently held a ribbon cutting to celebrate its new entrance, designed by SMMA, just in time for the first day of school.
As part of SMMA’s comprehensive study of the East Greenwich, RI schools, the firm made recommendations to improve both the educational program of the high school, now four decades old, and to improve both its security and image for students and visitors.
Designed in the “square donut” configuration popular in the 1960’s, classroom clusters of the school are connected by open breezeways, the largest of which is at the present front entrance of the school, compromising school security.
In addition, existing science rooms at both the first and second floors are to be completely renovated to reflect new teaching methods and technologies, including the addition of greenhouse “pods” directly connected to each of the biology classrooms on the first floor.
SMMA has proposed that the breezeways be fully enclosed and that a more welcoming, enclosed front entrance be provided with immediately adjacent visitor reception and access to the schools general office.
Although modest in scope, improvements such as these can re-equip an originally well-designed older school building – such as this – for many more generations of service to the community.