ARC designs STEM Center at St. Mark’s School

Southborough, MA A new 30,000 s/f integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Center, designed by ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, was dedicated on the campus of St. Mark’s School.

Consigli Construction Co., Inc. was the construction manager and provided preconstruction services.

The center includes a wide variety of settings where students and faculty can discover, pursue and expand their creative interests and passions through STEM-based learning. A fabrication lab, robotics program and several teaming spaces of varying size are key elements of the new facility. 

“The new STEM Center and its vibrant learning environment centers on the belief that an integrated understanding of STEM subjects is crucial for our students to develop into successful, engaged leaders of the 21st Century,” said Michael Wirtz, assistant head of St. Mark’s School. “ARC’s design supports our objective of expanding science and math integration and fostering creative problem solving in a team setting.”

At the core of the STEM educational model is flexibility and interdisciplinary activity. ARC designed the center with an emphasis on shared spaces where students from different math and science classes can collaborate in a team environment. Transparency and visibility throughout the interior are key design features, with glass walls allowing views into the active labs, classrooms and group collaboration areas. Modular work benches and furniture in the labs and classrooms offer total flexibility for changing needs. The lab spaces feature retractable power supplies overhead for flexible, moveable access.

“The design of the STEM Center opens up limitless possibilities for St. Mark’s students to initiate learning matched to their individual interests,” said Jan Taylor, AIA, associate principal with ARC. “The facility will accommodate independent, self-initiated study as well as team projects from building robots to creating new apps and computer programs.”

The STEM Center’s opening and dedication coincides with the celebration of St. Mark’s 150th Anniversary.