This 12,370-square-foot academic building represents a transformative milestone for the Waring School, a private French-immersion middle and high school in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Project Name: The Bridge at Waring School
Studio Name: OPAL
Location: Beverly , Massachusetts
Photography: Trent Bell
As the primary entry point for the school’s 150 students, the facility houses classrooms, areas for independent study and small-group collaboration, and a versatile forum classroom designed around the All-School Meeting—a daily tradition since the school’s founding in 1972.
Designed to meet Passive House standards for energy efficiency and occupant wellness, the building also resolves longstanding campus challenges related to circulation and the environment. It replaces a former residential structure that was prone to flooding and lacked accessibility.
By elevating the new building above the floodplain and bridging a 12-foot vertical slope, the design introduces an accessible path that unites the lower and upper portions of campus. This not only eliminates physical barriers but also fosters inclusivity and equity, offering a seamless connection that enhances engagement across the school community.
Contemporary in both form and detail, the building engages its wooded surroundings through materials such as stucco and vertical wood siding that complement the natural landscape. Its massing consists of two stacked volumes, with the upper volume rotated and embedded into the hillside, creating a distinctive silhouette shaped by the site’s topography and programmatic needs. At the junction of these volumes lies the All-School Meeting space, marked by a glazed corner that frames expansive views of the lower campus—serving as a prominent visual anchor and a gesture of openness and invitation.
