St. David’s School, Middle School and Library

Design Team: Tom Wells, AIA LEED AP, VP (Principal); Camilo Peña, AIA (Project Architect); Trevor Cundiff (REVIT Modeler); Fluhrer-Reed (Structural); Crenshaw Consulting Engineers (MEP), Edwards Consulting Engineers (Civil)

St. David’s School, an independent Episcopal school for pre-K through 12th grade, prepares students for college and life by challenging them to excel in the vital areas of faith, virtue and knowledge. The campus sits on 14 acres nestled in the close-knit residential community known as Midtown in Raleigh, N.C.

This state-of-the-art middle school and library was vital, not only to the school’s academic success, but also to its sense of community.

The three-story academic building has 18 classrooms, four science lab-like rooms, administrative offices and a state-of-the-art library. Accompanying this is an adjacent 500-square-foot multipurpose area for students to work, plus a large collaborative workshop for exploring, learning, making and presentations. The library provides flexibility by having movable bookshelves and flexible furnishings throughout. The library’s inviting wood-paneled entrance and common areas feature a renewable resource that absorbs noise and is energy-efficient.

Floor-to-ceiling windows enable natural light to penetrate along the entire north side of the building. A large terrace expands the library into the outdoors, providing a peaceful, natural setting for social gatherings or quiet contemplation. Seating is configured to accommodate reading, research, personal laptop or tablet use, study, and social interaction.

Other seating accommodates quiet study, research, small group collaboration, individual study carrels, and privacy for quiet reading and work.
The quarter-acre amphitheater and courtyard adjacent to the new building enable students to congregate in between classes, socialize during lunch or gather for pictures to be taken. The overall collaboration has resulted in a statement well suited to the values of the school.

Additional Information

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