Providence, R.I. – Shawmut celebrated the completion of the state-of-the-art $5M STEAM Hub for Girls at Lincoln School, a leader in all-girls education located in Providence, Rhode Island. The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Architecture, and Math) Hub, designed by LLB Architects, features a brand new two-story facade, 4,000 square feet of interdisciplinary learning space, flexible breakout areas, and a rotating art gallery, all on the historic Blackstone Boulevard property.
The STEAM Hub is the only dedicated STEAM facility for girls in Rhode Island and creates a cutting-edge environment for interdisciplinary teaching and learning while also contributing an architectural addition to Providence’s East Side.
“The Hub is a physical space that inspires intellectual creativity and curiosity, two hallmarks of a Lincoln education,” said Suzanne Fogarty, head of Lincoln School. “This new structure, built at the intersection of art and science, is a launchpad for girls and women jumping feet first into the future.”
The design is a visual expression of the school's mantra, ‘where tradition meets innovation.’ The addition features a dramatic glass curtainwall facing west with 20 vertical fins, or sun shades, spaced in such a way as to create rolling shade as the sun moves. The modern, curvilinear design allows people outside to see adjacent buildings through the new addition.
“Our focus was to create a collaborative and innovative learning space that is unique to Lincoln School,” said Ron Simoneau, vice president at Shawmut. “The state-of-the-art facility will enable students to engage in interdisciplinary coursework that gives them the opportunity to learn, explore, and break new ground in their future careers.”
The chemistry, robotics, and physics rooms are highlighted by enlarged, dynamic group study spaces and a math/engineering collaborative workspace anchors the new addition. All classroom and study spaces are more open, connected and flexible for a myriad of teaching and learning modes. The kitchen was reconfigured to provide a direct flow from the dining room and student lounges to a new student/faculty study space along Butler Avenue that overlooks Blackstone Boulevard and Park.