Shawmut Design and Construction restores St. George’s School’s Memorial Schoolhouse

Middletown, RI Shawmut Design and Construction has completed a $14 million historic restoration to the Memorial Schoolhouse at St. George’s School, a private boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12.

In partnership with design firm Vision 3 Architects, Shawmut executed the exterior restoration and comprehensive interior renovation of the 28,000 s/f, three-story building. To historically preserve the structure, the team completed brick and masonry restoration, replication and replacement of exterior windows and stone surrounds, as well as rebuilding of parapets and entries. The restoration also included extensive repairs to limestone, preservation to original woodwork and installation of custom replica lighting fixtures.

“We were honored to preserve one of St. George’s most cherished and historically significant structures on campus,” said Chris Maury, senior director of Rhode Island at Shawmut. “Focused on reviving the nearly century-old building, the project seamlessly restored the structure while integrating modern updates with an eye towards flexibility that will enable Memorial Schoolhouse to serve teachers, students and the community well into the future.”

Additionally, the project provided new classrooms, ADA accessibility, a new elevator and updated mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems. The building’s iconic two-story central study hall was also restored and now houses the Horton Center for Learning, which provides free academic support to the school’s students.

“The center of intellectual life on campus for many decades, Memorial Schoolhouse holds a special place in the hearts of our students and alumni,” said Alixe Callen, head of school at St. George’s. “On the cusp of its centennial, the building has been restored to its original glory.”

Memorial Schoolhouse, one of the school’s signature and most beloved buildings, was built in honor of the St. George’s graduates and faculty who were lost in World War I. Designed by McKim, Mead & White in 1923 as the original academic building on campus, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Shawmut’s work on St. George’s Memorial Schoolhouse represents the latest in a series of projects for the firm’s Rhode Island operation — including recently completed projects at Roger Williams University and Rhode Island School of Design. The firm also completed St. George’s Academic Center in 2015.