Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Finegold Alexander Debuts Design of Rhode-Island Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 01/17/23

Architecture firm Finegold Alexander, based in Boston, Mass., recently released the design for a ground-up rebuild of a 1950s-era elementary school in Cranston, R.I., according to a news release. The firm is partnering with the City of Cranston and Cranston Public Schools on the new, 100,000-square-foot Gladstone Elementary School. The space will stand three stories, have the capacity for about 800 students in grades K–5, and serve as the city’s international school.

A news release reports that Finegold Alexander made use of the site’s topography to create a smaller building footprint for the sake of energy efficiency. The layout also takes into account the building’s solar orientation to maximize the use of daylighting and create scenic views for students and teachers. The school features six separate Learning Communities, each a single suite of interconnected rooms, according to the news release. Each floor also features Curiosity Centers for subjects like music, art, and maker spaces. The site also features outdoor learning spaces, playgrounds, and a communal garden.

Gladstone Elementary School rendering
Image courtesy of Finegold Alexander

“Finegold Alexander is excited to share the design of the new Gladstone Elementary School,” said Finegold Alexander Principal Regan Shields Ives. “The design is focused on fostering interaction, communication, and creativity while giving the school the ability to adapt as their needs change over the decades.”

The news release reports that the project is currently in the design development phase with an estimated completion date of summer 2025.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.

  • University of Pittsburgh to Build New Residence Hall

    The Board of Trustees from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently approved the construction of a new residence hall for first-year students, according to university news.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • abstract illustration of school gym

    How the Gymnasium Can Serve as a Model for Learning Space Design

    Multipurpose gyms work because flexibility was built into the brief from the start, not retrofitted later. The same logic applies to academic spaces.