Located in Norfolk, Mass., the Freeman-Kennedy School is a new 96,410-sf facility serving 585 students to grades 3 through 6. The school includes 28 general classrooms; a gymnasium; a cafetorium; a library; special education, music, and art rooms; and outdoor academic spaces. 

Invoking images of old stone mill buildings and birch groves, the design of the school embraces its natural setting. Sturdy stone wings surround a playful metal and glass rear courtyard that includes an outdoor classroom, a water garden, and clusters of shade trees. All classroom spaces and the two-story library have exposed wood beam ceilings.

The project has been verified by the Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools (MA-CHPS) for its energy efficiency and sustainability. The building has a state-of-the-art HVAC displacement ventilation system, photovoltaic panels on its south-facing roofs, and perforated metal sun screens to minimize solar gain in the classroom.