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

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • Geometric abstract school illustration

    How Design Shapes Learning and Success

    Can the color of a wall, the curve of a chair, or the hum of fluorescent lights really affect how a student learns? More schools are beginning to think so.

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

Digital Edition