Evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody founded Northfield Mount Hermon School in 1879 with the goal of enrolling students of all races and ethnicities, as well as prioritizing providing opportunities for students of color. With the new Gilder Center the school continues to encourage inclusivity, hands-on problem solving, compassionate thinking, and effective communication. The building commemorates the Connecticut River Valley’s rich history with its dual relationship to the campus.
A stone arch entrance harmonizes the structure with the campus’s existing chapel and symbolizes a gateway to the sciences. Behind it, the building gestures towards the river, appearing to float over the landscape. The bright and airy interior allows for transparent views to indoor and outdoor areas. Exposed systems reveal the building’s anatomy, creating a high-tech atmosphere which demonstrates the science of construction. A STEM Common and collaborative areas encourage large group work and small meeting rooms support student agency.
Flexible labs and modular classrooms are equipped with portable stations to maximize utilization and enhance teaching and learning opportunities. The LEED-certified project embraces the school’s ambition to meet the 2030 Challenge. Floors and roofs are structured with cross-laminated-timber. Glass walls maximize natural light, natural felt controls acoustics and the slate-clad exterior decreases the use of carbon-intensive manufactured products. Energy efficient chilled beams are net zero-ready to be connected to a geothermal wellfield when the campus’ aging biofuel boilers are decommissioned. Environmentally responsible, architecturally respectful, and community focused, the building honors Northfield Mount Hermon’s rich educational heritage and prepares it for a dynamic future.
