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

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

Digital Edition