CREW CT 2025 Blue Ribbon Brochure

Windham High School

Willimantic, CT

Windham High School was built to accommodate approximately 1200 students in 1970 and had no significant renovations since that time. The District master plan noted the high school was serving a population of over 600 students and due for NEASC accreditation. Several students were leaving town to attend magnet and technical schools. The oversized facility included an 800 person Auditorium, full-size Gymnasium, Auxiliary Gymnasium, Cafeteria, and a non-compliant Natatorium badly in need of repairs. Faced with the challenge of funding the project, the District decided to consolidate additional programs in building to meet the State’s space standard and maximize their potential reimbursement. Several adjustments were made to meet this goal. The Early Childhood program, housed in multiple buildings across town, were all brought under one roof in the High School. The pool wing was retrofitted to add a second floor and furnished to house the District’s Central Office. The 800 person Auditorium was divided to accommodate 400 people with the remaining spaces being converted into a Band Classroom and Piano Lab. The layout of the building was organized on the clients’ need to house three distinct occupant groups: Windham High School (WHS), Windham Early Childhood Center (WECC), and Windham Public Schools Central Office. The primary goal was to keep these programs separate and secure. Each group has a dedicated entrance, parking, and secure reception on a different side of the building denoted by arched wood pergolas. The white cinderblock was cut back in classroom areas at the front façade to provide more windows for natural light and encapsulated with a faux wood rain screen. The WECC design was focused on creating a playful environment using vibrant colors in moderation. These colors were reflected in the flooring, wall tiles, and furniture. A standout feature is the Gross Motor rooms with flooring designs that mimic roads, playscape murals to bring the outdoors inside, therapy swings, and a rock-climbing wall—all designed to encourage creativity and movement in children year-round, and meeting all NYEAC accreditation standards. The 3-story High School uses maroon and blue school colors for wayfinding, with flooring and signage identifying each level. This is carried through to the 2-story Central Office space, designed with a sleek, modern aesthetic while prioritizing natural light and open workstations to foster collaboration and productivity. Notable programs at WHS include the new manufacturing Early College Opportunity (ECO) Lab, Allied Health Lab, Culinary Kitchen/Restaurant, and more—each contributing to a well-rounded educational experience. Site renovations included adding parking with photovoltaic canopies, restoring grass fields for baseball and softball, and adding a multi-sport synthetic turf field. New bleachers were added with a fully functioning press box and renovated concession stand for the technology and culinary classes to use for lab workshops. Another challenge was a phased renovation schedule spanning three years while the building was occupied. This required careful coordination of the occupant’s schedules, the construction schedule, material lead times, and furniture installation. The team delivered a high performance building on time and under the $112M budget.

Owner — Town of Windham

Project Size — 239,708 square feet

Project Team — Friar Architecture, RZ Design Associates, Martinez Couch & Associates, Eagle Environmental, CES, Ambient Data, Architx, P.H.Hawley Associates, CMTA, Colliers International, Downes Construction

29 Blue Ribbon Awards 2025