Sunita L. Williams – Needham, MA

New 90,000 SF elementary school in the woods.

Named after the American woman astronaut who set records for most spacewalks, Sunita L. Williams’ K-5 new facility features thoughtful design inspired by natural surroundings including woods, wetlands, and light. Design thinking was a critical aspect of the project from the materiality of the physical construction right down to the functionality and visual appeal of different learning environments.

Multiple settings within the same classroom space support different learning activities for general instruction, special education, and group learning. By blending solutions from KI, Whitney Brothers, MooreCo. & NorvaNivel, Red Thread provided a range of table, seating, and early learning wood furniture options for a vibrant and versatile aesthetic.

The library features a mix of KI and NorvaNivel soft seating while the administration area has a mix of solutions including National workstations and Steelcase Series 1 task chairs. The majority of the furnishings were procured using the MHEC and Mass State contract.

Photos © Jared Kuzia Photography

Project Partners

  • Dore + Whittier
  • Agostini Construction

Solutions

  • Furniture