marsh grammar school

The Marsh School is the first of three PK-8 schools OMR redesigned following a feasibility study of the entire Methuen School District. Once a tiny elementary school sitting in a quiet residential neighborhood, Marsh required six times more programmatic space to accommodate both a middle and elementary school in a single facility.

This design solution involved the demolition of a small portion of the original school, with a large addition built onto it to form a 180,000 sf structure. The building’s low profile and arched brick openings at street level retain a pedestrian scale and a synergistic relationship with the surrounding neighborhood.

Two separate cafeterias with a shared kitchen, and two separate gymnasiums recognize the difference between the ages of lower and upper school students. Glass enclosed stair elements reach out from either end of the school to create direct access to individual playgrounds. A new community accessible auditorium and library/media center sit at the center of the building. These shared unifying elements tie the school into a cohesive whole.

The new library/media center provides students with a technologically advanced learning environment. A high vaulted ceiling forms an open and airy space for children to read and study. Like all of OMR’s schools, natural light pervades the entire building. Skylights, light monitors, and light wells contribute to forming a bright and welcoming atmosphere conducive to learning and growing.