Building for the Future

The expansion will add approximately 9,300 square feet to the building, providing extra space for additional classrooms, gathering spaces, bathrooms, and collaborative spaces for faculty.

 

Over the past 18 months, Fay’s Board of Trustees identified the need for additional space in response to the overwhelming success of Fay’s Early Learning Center (ELC), which serves children ages 2.9 - 5 years. Since opening in 2017, the ELC has become an integral part of the Fay community, providing a state-of-the-art preschool program that has garnered rave reviews from parents and a robust waitlist. As a result, the ELC has become a key feeder for Fay’s Kindergarten, providing the School with a powerful tool for ensuring continued strong enrollment. With the financial sustainability of the School at the forefront of their decision, the Board of Trustees approved funding for the expansion of the Primary Building in May 2024.

 

“The Primary Building expansion provides us with a strategic opportunity,” explains Head of School Susanna Waters, “to increase the number of students in the ELC, which supports our long-term enrollment goals, while also providing additional learning spaces for our Primary students.”

 

 

Since its opening, the ELC has been administered by the Director of the Early Learning Center, who also serves as the Head of Primary School. This continuity of leadership has been a significant benefit for families as they make the transition from the ELC to Fay’s Kindergarten.

 

Until recently, the ELC has been composed of three classrooms, also utilizing other spaces in the Primary Building, including the Multipurpose Room, the Library, and the playground. The design for the expansion, which was developed by Eck MacNeely Architects, adds three more ELC classrooms, which makes it possible to double the Center’s enrollment by Fall 2026.

 

The expansion also adds a second multi-purpose room, dedicated rooms for music and art classes for all Primary students, a spacious hallway area designed to accommodate one-to-one and small-group work, a new faculty workroom, and additional bathrooms, cubbies, and storage.

 

 

Fay is prioritizing sustainability with the new construction. Current plans include sustainable elements such as permeable pavement to decrease runoff and minimize impact on the local watershed, native plantings that require less water and integrate seamlessly with the local landscape, and “dark sky”-compliant lighting to minimize light pollution and protect wildlife.

 

Site furnishings will be fabricated locally, with recycled content to reduce waste, and the building will include water-efficient features to reduce water usage and costs, such as motion sensor faucets, low-flow bathroom fixtures, point-of-use water heaters, and electric water heaters. The site will also incorporate energy-efficient features to reduce energy costs, such as insulation and glazing upgrades to the envelope, HVAC controls, and solar panels.

 

Susanna Waters notes, “We have a unique opportunity to minimize our impact on our surroundings and reduce costs over the long term. At the same time, we can demonstrate the power of positive action to our students, parents, alumni, and community members.”

 

 

Construction is well underway and will continue through the school year. The envelope of the building is slated for completion during the 2025-2026 school year, with interior work and landscaping scheduled to be completed in time for a Fall 2026 opening.