UPDATE ON FOOTE'S BUILDING PROJECT

November 11, 2009


Dear Foote School Parents,

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the Board has unanimously approved the selection of Maryann Thompson Architects of Cambridge, Mass, to design Foote School's next building project.  This project will include construction of Middle School science and technology facilities, additional classrooms, offices and meeting space, and also renovation of space in existing buildings. 

Harvard-trained as an architect and also as a landscape architect, Maryann Thompson has won national acclaim for her work on school projects. She is highly skilled as a planner, programmer and designer and comes to this project with great depth of experience, ranging from large institutional facilities to smaller residential buildings.

As a former principal of Thompson and Rose Architects, Maryann was instrumental in designing Foote School's Arts and Music building, as well as the Sandine Theater and the Hosley Gym expansion.  She understands what makes Foote School special and has shown great creativity in thinking about how this next project might enhance an already impressive campus.

Selecting one architect from the ninety-five who submitted qualifications was a formidable challenge. We are especially grateful to the Foote-affiliated architects (parents, past parents and alumni) who expressed interest in the project. The talents of this group are indeed impressive.

I would like to thank the members of the Building Committee, ably led by Co-Chairs Melanie Ginter and David Moore, for their hard work and continuing dedication to this building project. In many ways the real work is about to begin. We move forward with great confidence in the architect we have selected and much excitement about the ways in which this project will address needs across departments and divisions. 

We hope to get started on planning and design before the end of the year. Maryann and members of the Building Committee look forward to engaging the Foote School community in conversations about this project. With your help we can be successful in creating a facility that will support Foote's students, faculty and program for decades to come.

Sincerely,


Libby Peard
On behalf of the Foote School Board of Directors