Worcester Academy is a 175-year-old private, independent, co-ed day and boarding school for grades 6 to 12. The campus is an historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with six buildings listed as contributing properties, including Walker Hall (c. 1889), the Megaron (c. 1905) and Adams Hall (c. 1892). The three buildings are connected, and together overlook the Academy’s central quad.

Schwartz/Silver’s renovation of Walker Hall reconfigured the building to provide liberal arts classrooms, administrative offices, major meeting spaces and, at the lower levels, new spaces for the visual arts and performances. As part of the work, windows were replaced with historically correct new units, and new mechanical and life-safety systems were installed. The renovation respects the history of the building while creating a light-filled, energetic environment for 21st century education.

Collaborators

Structural Engineer: RSE Associates
Mechanical and Plumbing Engineer: Cosentini
Electrical Engineer: Cosentini
HVAC: Cosentini
Civil Engineer: Samiotes Consultants
Geotechnical: McPhail Associates
Code Consulting: Norton Remmer
Contractor: Consigli
Acoustics: Acentech
Photography: © Nick Benson Photography