New Place Space. Fayerweather Street School

The new play space designed by studioMLA provides a multitude of play opportunities for the school community that includes children from ages 3-14 and has sparked the students’ imaginations to create new games and ways to play. studioMLA Architects conducted design workshops with teachers, students, and parent groups for the renovation of their play spaces.

The Fayerweather Street School community developed goals for their new play space. The goals included physically challenging elements, promoting healthy risk-taking, and encouraging cooperation. One response was a custom-designed giant slide that is 20 feet long and 10 feet high, which can sit six to eight children across. Not only does it fit the criteria of “physically challenging,” but it has also encouraged cooperative multi-age play. Another strategy used successfully at Fayerweather was to develop areas along the perimeter of the space designed for quieter, small group activities. These spaces allow for exploration and investigation and create connections to nature at the Fayerweather Street School.

Services Provided

Landscape architecture, outdoor playspace design.

*Project completed as studioMLA Architects prior to acquisition by Ashley McGraw Architects