2nd Place, Historic
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Mary E. Wells School was designed by the renowned Boston-based architectural firm Peabody and Stearns and built in two major phases between 1916 and 1923. A modest addition was constructed to the rear of the building in the 1980s.
As the first public high school in Southbridge, Mass., it functioned continuously as an educational resource for nearly a century until it was vacated in 2012. The historic structure sat dormant until 2020 when WinnDevelopment began the adaptation of the 117,655-square-foot building into Residences at Wells School, a $25.3 million mixed-income community comprised of 62 one- and two-bedroom units for active seniors 55 and older.
The portion of the building constructed in 1916 featured classic Peabody and Stearns architectural details, including brick and double entrances and ornamental cast-stone door surrounds. The 1923 U-shaped addition created a generally rectilinear plan with a lightwell at the center of the building, providing light and air to interior spaces. The western addition, completed in 1985, contained the gymnasium, auditorium and cafeteria.
Recognizing historic schools are well-suited for adaptation to residential use with minimal structural changes, the design team strategically optimized:
- Open classroom spaces, comparable in size with standard apartment units.
- Large, oversized windows, providing ample natural light.
- Double-loaded central hallways, creating design efficiencies for multifamily program- ming.
- High ceilings, which provide daylight and generous room for ductwork.
- Thick walls offer much-needed insulation and a strong structural barrier.
The school’s historic character was thoughtfully restored, preserved and replicated. For example, the windows prior to renovation were not original and were replaced with ENERGY STAR-certified, insulated, frosted glass panels, designed to replicate the windows featured in historic images of the building. The building’s doors were replaced with historically accurate paired doors with wide rails and stiles framing central glazed components. Other original details are featured throughout the building, including exposed brick walls, school lockers, gymnasium floor in the resident lounge and fitness spaces, and the sports scoreboard is an ornamental fixture. A robust suite of amenities includes a fitness and yoga studio, library with private work pods, a children’s play area and a generous interior courtyard.
Through intentional design strategies, the project achieved Enterprise Green Communities Certification, a U.S. standard for the design, construction, and operation of healthy, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible affordable housing. The sustainable design program improved the building’s thermal structure, envelope density and air infiltration system through various approaches.
Older populations face numerous housing challenges, including those related to affordability, physical accessibility, and access to medical and other services. The adaptive reuse of the Residences at Wells School is a promising redevelopment and design strategy aimed at addressing this problem. The property has an annual budget for resident services, including a part-time onsite service coordinator to engage residents around medical care, education, socialization and community participation.
PHOTOS: Gregg Shupe unless otherwise noted
Retrofit Team
METAMORPHOSIS AWARD WINNER and DEVELOPER: WinnDevelopment
CO-DEVELOPER: Arch Street Capital
ARCHITECT: The Architectural Team Inc.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Keith Construction
HISTORIC CONSULTANT: MacRostie Historic Advisors, now Ryan
ENGINEER: Loureiro Engineering
Materials
RESILIENT FLOCKED FLOORING: Forbo
VINYL BASE AND RUBBER STAIR TREAD: Johnsonite
PAINT: Sherwin-Williams
WALL TILE: Nemo Tile
LAMINATE: Formica
ACOUSTIC CEILING TILE: Armstrong World Industries
FIREPLACE: Heat & Glo
WIRE MANAGEMENT, GROMMET: Mockett
APPLIANCES: GE Appliances
FIXTURES: Moen, American Standard and Elkay