Mitchell Elementary School

The Mitchell Elementary School in Needham, MA educates approximately 500 students in grades K through 5th grade. The school was built in 1949-1950 after the donation of land by Dr. William Mitchell, a local doctor that wanted to give back to his community. The elementary school was composed of an office, kindergarten, library, clinic, teacher’s lounge, six classrooms and a multipurpose room that served as a gym, auditorium, and cafeteria at its inception. Since its doors opened the school has had two additions. The first in 1950, with the addition of a new gym, kindergarten and additional eight classrooms. Then in 1969 a second addition added another six classroom and media center.

Today Mitchell Elementary School has asked JFF Design develop a design to renovate the existing administration office, teacher’s lounge, and front entrance to better suit today’s educational and staffing needs. The new program consisted of a administrative office with an open floor plan. Designing a flexible teacher’s lounge that could be divided into conference space and work space using retractable walls. Then finally the redesign of the front entry that meets ADA compliance and student safety concerns. When dropped off in the morning students are greeted by a playful hardscape of stairs and serpentine ramp that funnel students into school. The front entry is highlighted in design by the use a glass box light tower that fluids the entrance with bright light to greet the day.

Type: Institutional; Scope of Work: 1,600 sq. ft. Front Entry & Administrative Office Renovation; Style: Institutional Contemporary; Location Needham, MA; Project Status: Schematic Design Proposal