Pell Building Committee Discusses Common Rooms, Decorative Clock, and Other Aspects of School Design

Newport's Pell Building Committee met Tuesday night to discuss several components of the future school’s interior and exterior design, including roof construction and classroom setup. The architects from HMFH Inc., displayed rough sketches that were met with general approval from attendees.

Matthew LaRue, of HMFH, said the company is considering metal roofs, although they are not ruling out other options such as painted aluminum, zinc-coated tin or asphalt shingles. LaRue said the asphalt would be the most economical decision, but that metal would last the longest.

The sketches presented were in keeping with previous designs of the school having one path across Dexter Street going through the main archway. The adjoining walls on each side of the arch would create a semi-closed off area that would keep the area generally secure, he said.

“I like the design, but I’m just worried about the logistics of hundreds of people passing through [the arch] in a hurry,” said School Committee Chairman Patrick Kelley.

Larue said approximately four to five people could pass through the arch at a time. In the current design, people can enter and exit through side openings as well.

An addition to the design was a large clock on the front of the building, which HMFH architect Laura Wernick said was more of an iconic design element.

“It’s a little symbol people identify with," she siad. "It makes the school more special and unique. The clock is a traditional element.”

Wernick said the cost estimates for the clock could be modified after further budget analysis.

Larue explained that there were still some of the “village” type elements from the original design incorporated into a new, less whimsical, design based on community feedback. The current exterior design scheme was presented as a combination of brick and glass windows.

“I think you’ve captured the sense of what the community wants you to do,” Superintendent John H. Ambrogi said.

LaRue also presented designs of a typical kindergarten and grade-level classroom. Kindergarten and Pre-K rooms were the only grades that did not have a shared classroom space in between two rooms. The other grades showed designs that include a small, common group room in between two classrooms that four to five students and teachers could utilize for individualized and special learning. The common room would be equipped with a table, white board and tack board.

“It offers some level of flexibility for supervision,” LaRue said. Windows were included in the design as well as two doors that could remain open, however teachers voiced concern over leaving students in the common rooms alone.

Designs included tiered risers for storytelling or other activities involving more than one class outside of the kindergarten classrooms.

All rooms at the Pell Elementary School were equipped with laptop cooling and charging stations and interactive white board capabilities. Non-kindergarten classrooms were designed to be 840 square feet with a 120 square foot common room.

Both Pell art rooms provided storage space, shelving, and a kiln room for the wing with older students.

The next meeting to discuss the Pell school design will be April 28 at 4 p.m. at .