Providence, RI – Sophia Academy – the only middle school in Providence focused specifically on girls from low income homes – is moving back to the Elmwood neighborhood where Founder Mary Reilly, began the school 12 years ago. June 17th marked the groundbreaking ceremony, where school leaders and students celebrated with supporters that included U.S. Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) and Providence Mayor Taveras.
The school purchased the former ALP alternative high school building at 582 Elmwood Avenue from the City and hopes to move into its new home during early 2014. Originally built as the Industrial Trust Bank in 1948, this twostory (plus basement) masonry building was changed to an educational use in 1990 and has since been used as a high school and by a construction company as a field office. The 14,000 square foot building will receive minor interior alterations including abatement, partition relocation and new bathrooms. Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects, a Providence firm that specializes in the adaptive reuse of historic properties, was chosen as
The 28,000 square foot site is located on a commercial street and borders a historic medium-density neighborhood. According to Head of School Gigi DiBello, the Elmwood Avenue location is close to where most of the school’s students, families and alumnae currently live. She said the new location will allow Sophia to offer programs and activities not only to its students, but potentially to other middle school age girls who live in the area.
To fund the purchase and renovation of the building, the school has embarked on a $1.5 million Wisdom to Dream capital campaign co-chaired by Rhode Island philanthropists Suzanne Murray and Anne Szostak. Murray noted that capital campaigns often begin with a “silent” phase where potential donors are approached to gage support and hopefully secure at least some donations to serve as a foundation. The response to Sophia during the silent phase has been “overwhelming,” she said. Murray announced that more than $1.4 million has already been raised in gifts and pledges without the benefit of any publicity. The school will continue to raise funds to meet its goal, as well as to pay for new classroom furniture and other equipment. (For more information on how to contribute, contact the school at 401-784-0021)
Nondenominational and independent, Sophia Academy is the only middle school in Providence focused specifically
on girls from low income homes. By utilizing best practices in gender specific education, Sophia Academy fosters
intellectual, moral, cultural, and social growth for its students. For more information about the school visit our
website: www.sophia-academy.org.
Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects is a 23-person, full-service architectural firm located in
Providence, RI. Their portfolio includes adaptive reuse of historic structures; mixed-use urban redevelopment;
preservation of historic landmarks; healthcare; higher education; commercial interior design; affordable, marketrate and mixed-income multifamily housing; and master planning. It is DBVW Architects’ goal to incorporate smart
growth principles and sustainable design strategies into all of their projects. DBVW provides services throughout the
Northeast. For more information, please contact Jennifer Fonseca at 401.831.1240 or jfonseca@durkeebrown.com.
###