Portsmouth Abbey School Student Center

The 8,000-square-foot Student Center at Portsmouth Abbey School overlooks Narragansett Bay. The elegant, one-story structure provides a host of spaces designed to support academic collaboration, casual socializing and school-related events.

From a distance, the internal glow of the building trickles out through the glazing and clerestory grille pattern. Inside the Student Center Commons, fully concealed asymmetric uplights at the base of the clerestory windows create a glowing interior, revealing the timber ceiling, while providing the required illuminance and bouncing light into the room.

The curtainwall and metal grille form a lantern effect. Decorative bell pendants and downlights enhance the dining area. Study spaces feature a large ring pendant and discreet beam-mounted downlights. A linear grazer dramatically highlights the fireplace masonry.

In keeping with the Benedictine philosophy of environmental responsibility, the entire structure is conceived with an eye toward sustainability. Aluminum screening covers the terrace, providing shade and allowing diffuse sunlight into the commons. Additionally, a copper solar screen and pergola reduce heat gain on the facility enabling efficient operation of the mechanical systems.