BALDWIN’S INNOVATION CENTER

MAKING A

“OLD POOL” TO BE REIMAGINED AS INNOVATION CENTER

One of the trademarks of The Baldwin School is a commitment to the future that is informed by an appreciation for the past. The latest capital project the School has undertaken is a perfect demonstration of this viewpoint. The pool that so many Baldwin alumnae remember fondly will be transformed into an interdisciplinary hub that will give students an edge in the 21st century job market - and it is being made possible by an alumna who is part of the rich history of Baldwin’s first 100 years.

Lead Donation by a Baldwin Alumna Makes an Exciting New Project a Reality

Sally Warehime Yelland ’54 is excited to provide the lead gift that will allow construction of the Innovation Center to begin this summer. Over the past several years, she has been inspired by the strength of the School’s strategic vision and for the bold leadership of Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges ’96.

“I am very proud of the accomplishments and opportunities for women occurring today. Very few women in our mothers' generation worked outside the home, and today the majority of our daughters have amazing careers. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to own a business and enjoyed working with our employees, who were proud of their craftsmanship,” Sally reflects. “I feel an immense sense of gratitude for the education and experience I received at Baldwin, so I am thrilled to support this exciting new academic space for today’s Baldwin students and look forward to all they will achieve!”

A building dedicated to the tangible, hands-on work of interdisciplinary learning will be a significant step forward for Baldwin’s Strategic Vision, which reimagines the School’s curriculum with a focus on problem-solving, creativity, teamwork and adaptability. These skills will be honed in a building designed specifically for different classes and grades to work together on projects they can see through from conception to completion.

Transforming this space will restore the “old pool” building as a central point in the campus landscape, highlighting a beautiful courtyard space where faculty look forward to holding outdoor classes. With interdisciplinary programs in mind, faculty have weighed in on the plans for the development, with emphasis on flexibility to allow for every phase of project creation – from brainstorming and design to construction and presentation. Ample power sources, large sinks, fabrication tools, natural light and modular seating are among the key features that will facilitate the interdisciplinary learning.

“The Innovation Center will be a modern, flexible and collaborative space for students in every grade and division to meet and work together,” said Jenny Cross (P ’23), Chair of the Board of Trustees’ Building and Grounds Committee. “This facility will ensure that we can achieve our vision of authentic, interdisciplinary project-based learning, which is so important to the future of our Baldwin girls.”

School administration has been working with faculty, staff and parent volunteers and a top architectural team at Voith & Mactavish Architects to help design this space. To ensure this endeavor follows best practices, members of the School team visited peer independent schools to view recent similar constructions, and reviewed trends in creative mixedlearning spaces at top colleges and universities. Construction of the Innovation Center will begin this summer, with the grand opening planned for the winter of 2022.