Head of School Letter: Campus Planning

A key pillar of Shorecrest's strategic plan is a focus on the Physical Plant and Facilities. This initiative emphasizes the importance of a campus that inspires learning, supports creativity and enhances the physical well-being of our students. As we look to implement the strategic plan, the next step is to develop a campus plan that will support Shorecrest's future growth. To achieve this goal, Shorecrest has selected HKS | Architect & Designers, an award-winning global architecture, interior design, planning and advisory firm, to be our chosen campus planning partners. 

The HKS group is an architect/design firm with extensive experience in the education environments of schools. They take an evidence-based approach to the design of learning spaces. Design decisions are based on the latest scientific research and established best practices, with the aim of improving outcomes for students, educators, and administrators. Their data demonstrates that the built environment has a direct and measurable impact on student and faculty attraction, retention and well-being, and that design can both foster learning and cultivate connection. Their partners include architects, organizational psychologists, design experts and civil engineers. 

Our objective in engaging HKS is to have them look at the Shorecrest campus holistically and do three things, all based on the school's Mission, strategic plan and institutional priorities:  

• Explore how to best optimize our current campus and facilities 
• Evaluate site circulation 
• Consider future growth and development of capital projects

We have scheduled the HKS team to come to campus for two visits where they will carry out both a Current State Analysis and Future State Visioning process. The members of the HKS team seek to learn what works, what can be improved and what makes for unique Shorecrest experiences. 

This past week, the team from HKS spent two days on campus for an on-site observation and analysis. Their schedule included an extensive tour of the facilities and site walk, along with interactive exercises and interviews with students, faculty and staff. During their visit, the HKS team members shadowed students in each School Division as they went through their class days. Their time at Shorecrest also included observation of carline during both morning arrival and the afternoon dismissal process. 

Lower, Middle and Upper School students were included in the conversations. Bijoy Alam ’25, one of the co-editors of the Upper School student newspaper, summarized his experience to say, “during lunch students participated in a fun and interactive activity in the Dining Room to share their thoughts about campus spaces. Using a map of the campus, they placed green stickers on their favorite spots and red stickers on areas they felt could use improvement. This activity reflects Shorecrest’s dedication to enhance the campus experience for students, faculty and staff. By sharing their insights, students are playing a key role in shaping a campus that reflects their needs, encourages collaboration, and supports a thriving learning community.” 

HKS will return in February for a Future State Visioning and Engagement visit. During this time, they will meet with the Board of Trustees and facilitate in-person visioning workshops with a variety of participants. The workshops will consist of a series of small group and individual interactive activities and interviews designed to solicit input from a diverse stakeholder group. 

The objective is to utilize continual engagement and collaboration to translate to paper the ideas brought forth by members of the community. 

At the conclusion of this process, HKS will provide a comprehensive summary of their findings, distilled through a focus on priorities. Their deliverables will include detailed programming and project recommendations for the School’s consideration, as we look to begin conversations of discovery about exciting opportunities and partnership with our giving community. 

We are so pleased to embark on this journey with HKS. Campus planning is an exciting undertaking and we believe that now is the moment for our community, Trustees and school leadership to come together to envision and shape the future of our campus and learning environment.

All the best, 

Nancy