Preserving History with Pride and Care

Unilock

The new admissions building at Miss Porter’s School used Unilock products to help preserve the historical feel of the site while also providing much needed durability.

For over 325 years a building has stood on the east bank of the Farmington River. Once a grist mill, this historic landmark has had the identity of a residence, boutique shop, fabric store, bookstore and even a successful restaurant. In 2014, the building and the land were donated to the Miss Porter’s School — Farmington, Conn.’s premier college preparatory school that excels in academics and athletics. This captivating site would be transformed into the new admissions building.

During the renovation the school saw the importance of preserving the historic features and character. What was once a sea of asphalt parking, the exterior of the site was converted into an arrival garden and accessible walk by The Berkshire Design Group of Northampton, Mass. It was important to find and use materials that would keep the feel of the site and stand the test of time. Unilock Town Hall paver is utilized in the plaza and walkway areas, which are adjacent to the large lawn area, a destination for school celebrations. Unilock Rivercrest Wall system forms a raised planter filled with shrubs, ground covers and bulbs to frame views of the river.

Installation was provided by Starr Contracting, LLC of Avon Conn. With pride and care, the team at Starr incorporated many existing site structures into the whole project, including one of the original mill stones.

This site is an area which will showcase and celebrate Farmington’s history for years to come.

www.unilock.com

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Wyoming District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Laramie County School District #1 in Cheyenne, Wy., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Mountain View Elementary School, according to a news release. The facility has an estimated completion date of summer 2028, and it will have the capacity for 650 students in fifth and sixth grade.

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

    Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance.