ESa was hired to create a plan for The Webb School, a college preparatory boarding and day school, to address the current and future needs of this 150-year-old institution, as well as grow and enhance the campus experience for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
Through an assessment of the current campus by each facility and overall program, ESa engaged stakeholders by holding town halls consisting of leadership, faculty, alumni, board members, students, families and the town of Bell Buckle.
The Webb School Master Plan highlights seven key zones of campus: academic, administrative, athletics, fine arts, residential (students), residential (faculty), and student life. The intent of the Master Plan is to group each discipline for clarity of function and use, while also allowing for flexibility in future execution and construction. Each zone weaves and folds together, creating a harmonious balance on campus.
A new dining hall and student commons, included in Phase I, will accommodate 375 seats and is a multifaceted facility designed to enhance both function and form. In addition to the dining space, the facility includes meeting rooms, lounge study rooms, a flexible conference center, and four 25-seat classrooms.
The project presented unique challenges, such as navigating the site’s topography and seamlessly integrating the dining hall into the campus’s existing circulation and existing architecture vernacular. To address these challenges, the design features terraced floors that step down the hillside, capturing pastoral views while maintaining a harmonious flow with the surrounding landscape. Key architectural elements include a two-story dining hall and plazas at both ends of the facility, complemented by an inviting entry lawn that welcomes students and visitors alike.
