Georgia Coastal School Presents New STEM Building in Savannah
By Eric Althoff
SAVANNAH, Ga.—From an educational idea has sprouted—or “stemmed”—a new science educational building in this historic oceanside city located in the southeastern corner of the Peach State.
The Savannah Country Day School recently introduced Mingledorff Hall, its new STEM Building, this summer, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by civic leaders, school alumni and staff. Personnel from Boston-based designer Architectural Resources Cambridge (ARC) and architect of record Hussey Gay Bell—local to Savannah—were also on hand for the reveal.
The 32,000-square-foot Mingledorff Hall is home to an energy learning laboratory, five math classrooms and as many science labs. The building also hosts new conference spaces, a library as well as various gathering areas that overlook the Savannah Country Day School’s central quad.
“This new state-of-the-art building transforms our campus and provides our students with the learning experiences needed to thrive in the future,” Head of School Kef Wilson said at the ribbon cutting. “We are thrilled with the building’s beautiful, engaging, and adaptable design, and appreciate how it complements the surrounding buildings and our campus context.”
Personnel from ARC explained they were proud to help Country Day continue its tradition of academic excellence as well as to further their mission of boosting the scientific education of the community of southeastern Georgia. The firm also praised their collaboration with fellow designer Hussey Gay Bell.
“The design challenge was to blend a contemporary state-of-the-art science facility with the traditional Lower and Middle School Buildings,” G. Holmes Bell, IV, CEO & chairman of Hussey Gay Bell, said in a statement to School Construction News. “Our design solution provides a thoughtful hybrid between the traditional architecture of the campus and a contemporary STEM center.”
West Construction Company of Savannah worked as the project’s general contractor.
“Building within an active campus is never easy, but thanks in part to the thoughtful architecture and attentiveness of Hussey Gay Bell and ARC, Mingledorff Hall was completed ahead of schedule and under-budget,” said West Construction President Matt West. “We’re looking forward to watching this state-of-the-art facility serve Savannah Country Day School for generations to come.”
West Construction Company’s other educational projects in Georgia include the St. Francis Xavier School, now under construction, and the SCAD School of Entertainment Arts.
ARC has national expertise in the educational sector, having partnered with over 50 independent school clients. Prior to designing the STEM project, ARC completed a campus master plan for Savannah Country Day School.