The Park School
Brookline, MA
26
vertical feet of elevation change and fully accessible
1,050
square feet of tree canopy preserved
6
designated play areas
The Park School provides a curriculum dedicated to the development of “whole selves”—the intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and creative well-being of children—understanding that the educational journey is not just an academic one. This formed the foundation and focus of the project, which aimed to improve the classroom experience for students through the introduction of a new 20,000 square foot addition which is thoughtfully situated on a constrained site. A new landscape and roadway design reassigns the back of the school as a prominent and welcoming entrance for the student community.
DMLA worked collaboratively with The Park School team to clarify the vision, reach consensus, and successfully design a program using sustainable, energy efficient construction methodologies, minimizing waste and reducing consumption of natural resources. A major emphasis was placed on maintaining the existing trees and physical features of the site to enhance the campus character as well as minimize added pavements.
A thoughtful collection of child-friendly plants was selected for their contrasting leafy textures, providing sensory stimulation and seasonal change for novelty and interest. Ample greenery offers quiet enclosures, shade, encourages movement and cues for visual landmarks. The resulting design is perfectly suited for the diverse 560 students, whose ages range from four to fourteen. Playground plantings—including deciduous trees and shrubs, evergreen shrubs, vines, and ground covers—are integrated with equipment to form a distinctive naturalization strategy.
Park School Student
Project Team
- Deborah Myers designed this project as a Senior Associate at Stantec
- Client: The Park School
- Architect: NBBJ (formerly Chan Krieger)
- Civil Engineer: Stantec
- Landscape Contractor: Marini Corp
- Photographer: Charles Mayer, Deborah Myers