One Building to Meet Many Needs
Located in the Highland Park Historic District of Roxbury, Paige Academy’s educational mission is to provide an environment that fosters individual worth as well as collective responsibility. The school’s African American value system promotes the Nguzo Saba, Seven Principles of Kwanza, and educates children from infancy through 6th grade with Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Programs as well as the Elementary School curriculum. Paige also offers pre-school, after-school, and summer camp programs.
The school originally occupied one side of a stunning 3-story Italianate double house. To meet growing demand, the school purchased the deteriorated adjacent house to expand its programs to serve all students in one building.
Location
Roxbury, MA
Client
Paige Academy
Size / Area
14,200 SF
Awards
2004 Massachusetts Historical Commission Award for Adaptive Reuse Rehabilitation & Restoration
Students
110
Grades
Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Grades K-6
Preserving Historical Beauty
Significant site work was undertaken, including repairing and restoring the granite steps, wrought iron railing, and front entry portico, and creating a new driveway for child drop-off and handicapped-accessible entry at grade. The existing envelope was rebuilt and repaired, with historic doors, windows, and Italianate detailing preserved or replicated.
The historic and architectural character of the interiors was maintained, preserving existing marble fireplaces, plaster rosettes, and detailed wood moldings, all while creating spaces appropriate for educational uses.
Creating Space To Build Community
The two half-houses were joined at each level, and space was reclaimed through the creative reconfiguration of stairs and entries.
A multi-story wing was added at the side and rear to provide an elevator, a new egress stair, and additional classrooms. The Umoja (Unity) Room, an ample gathering space, opens to the cafeteria and kitchen and serves as a performance space for the music and dance programs. An ornate living room was repurposed as the school’s library.
Preserving an Architectural Gem
Our team assisted Paige Academy in a Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund grant application for the preservation work, as well as sourcing multiple other sources of funds for the renovation and expansion. The project not only preserved a building of great architectural character, putting it in service as a school and child care center, but helped to preserve the architectural quality and integrity of the Roxbury Highland neighborhood.
In 2004, Paige Academy won a Massachusetts Historical Commission award for “Adaptive Re-use Rehabilitation & Restoration.”
