The Building Blocks of an Inspiring School

Madson and his team collaborated with faculty and staff members, to zero in on the needs of those who would spend the most time throughout the space. “One of the things we found was Pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade all had different needs and desires for what the learning environment could accommodate.”

True to the school’s purpose, Madson inspired himself with play at its most simple form, turning to toy blocks to land on the final architectural arrangement.

“The building is based around these simple geometries, that are pulled from toy blocks developed in the 19th century. It’s oriented like a pinwheel with the idea that it has a sense of porosity. You can arrive from the north, and spill out south toward the forest, east into an outdoor dining area, or you can head west towards the upper school.”

The Blake School set the new building south of the larger campus, slightly downhill against the surrounding terrain’s tree line. Madson used these elements to create a distinct arrangement that linked the exterior scenery to its interior purpose.

“It’s organized around this idea of a field, a forest, and a treetop,” Madson explained, referencing the ground floor entry level, elevated by the building’s adjacency to the hillside. The three floors of The Blake School are separated by not only their altitude, but by class as well, making each floor a distinct experience for students to manifest their growth. “Each grade has three classrooms with three different orientations, and all have doors that connect to outdoor learning spaces.”

As exposed timber beams supplied the architectural integrity of The Blake School, the windows had to reflect the natural motif.

“A big part of the goals for this project was that the building be made with natural materials that had a tactility and warmth that children would relate to. The existing campus was brick, so we riffed off of their existing material palettes, but replacing limestone with wood.” Madson had worked with Marvin previously on a handful of college campus buildings in Maine, including the state’s first pure mass timber commercial structure.

To create a sense of openness, the communal spaces required a specific degree of sunlit illumination. Marvin Ultimate Direct Glaze windows brought vast openings in a wealth of wood selections that blended alongside the forest landscape.

“We were able to get natural materials from Marvin that corresponded well with the natural structure of the wood,” Madson continued. “You can see the relationship between the assembly and the structure,” and while the aesthetics of Marvin windows met Madson’s tastes, having performance throughout both the interior and exterior of the building was a must.

“Marvin Ultimate windows provided solid thermal performance and resilient aluminum-clad finishes for the exterior envelope, while allowing for wood finishes in the interior classrooms and social spaces.” The material warmth and home-like feel of the interiors instilled a serene sense of unity throughout the structure. Madson also utilized commercial doors across the build for continuity and consistency.