VMA Expands Primary School at Montclair Kimberley Academy

Montclair Kimberley Academy’s Primary School serves grades Pre-K through 3 on a 3.5 acre campus. The school reached out to VMA to address two major issues. First, they were using an undersized space both as a gym and a classroom for music and theater. This same space also doubled up as a performance venue for school shows. Second, the school wanted to change from a culture of eating in classrooms to having a dedicated lunch room. Since lunches were offered, their halls doubled as a prep kitchen and servery. 

In order to make room for a significant addition on the constrained site, a swimming pool had to be removed. VMA improved the site for student safety by reconfiguring vehicular and pedestrian movement from pick-up and drop-off points, as well as rethinking the parking lot for more efficient use of the land. A playground now holds pride of place at the new entry designed for the school. At the same time, we focused on buffering the school from the residential neighborhood that surrounds it. 

At the heart of VMA’s 10,300 sf expansion is a large space where students can come together. This “cafetorium” serves as a 400-seat assembly hall, breaking down into a 150-person performance space and a 100-student cafeteria by a large moveable partition. The new entrance to the school includes a reception area, admissions offices, and an entry hall that serves as a gallery to display student art. 

To cater to theater functions, VMA established a 1,600 sf stage with a traditional proscenium with a larger thrust. We carefully considered the height of the stage for young students: it is low enough to feel safe and connected, yet high enough to be seen and heard. Since the space has a flat floor, instead of the sloped floor usually found in a traditional auditorium, it can be used for activities such as dance, indoor play, parent orientations, as well as social events. The moveable partition divides this area into two when not hosting large audiences. For everyday use, one third of the space becomes the cafeteria supported by a new commercial kitchen. The dining furniture is lightweight and stackable so it can be easily moved away or reconfigured. The side with the stage is used for smaller assemblies, rehearsals, music classes, as well as afterschool play. 

The hall connecting the entry with the theater and cafeteria plays an integral part in the pick-up and drop-off. The large window sills serve as youngsters’ benches where they can wait for their rides. A long covered porch just outside of the hall protects the students from weather as they get to their cars. 

The warm and welcoming interior comprises polished concrete floors, pickled birch paneling, and fabric-wrapped acoustical treatments. The building’s high-efficiency envelope features solar glazing on the south side, which limits heat gain and provides privacy at the edge of the campus.

Overall, the school has been greatly improved from a safety standpoint and presents a fresh contemporary image to the school community and its neighbors. 

Data
Client: Montclair Kimberley Academy
Location: Montclair, New Jersey, United States
Size: 10,360 SF
Design: $7,500,000
Construction: $7,162,000

Credits
Architects: Voith & Mactavish Architects, LLP
Interiors: Voith & Mactavish Architects, Interiors Studio
Structural Engineer: Macintosh Engineering (now DCI)
MEP Engineer: DJVI (Ververelli)
Civil Engineer: LanganLandscape: Langan
Contractor: Visbeen Construction
AV-IT: Marshall KMK (now NV5)
Food Service: Crabtree McGrath