The newly completed Innovation and Exploration Center (IEC) at Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, gives students a dedicated space for hands-on learning and creating.
Designed by Marvel, the 30,000-square-foot facility brings the school’s tech learning spaces, which had been spread across the campus, under one roof. In this innovative tech lab, students have access to a metal shop, 3D print room, and lounge, among other amenities.
This modern addition to the historic campus blends seamlessly, a harmony Marvel achieved through zinc cladding and traditional forms like the gable roof. Marvel also took advantage of the site’s slope to bring the new building’s mass into scale with the surrounding campus context. The structure nestles into the hillside, minimizing its visual impact.
“Our aim was to complement the campus’s classical architecture with modern forms and materials,” says Lissa So, founding partner at Marvel. “The building embraces nature and serves as a haven for students to collaborate and embark on their journey of research and discovery.”
Masters School is known for its “Harkness” method of teaching, which emphasizes collaborative, non-hierarchical learning. The Innovation and Exploration Center’s central atrium reflects this ethos, echoing the oval tables synonymous with the Harkness approach. The atrium’s open layout, flexible furnishings, and adjacency to program spaces like the robotics lab foster both formal and informal collaboration.
The IEC prioritizes occupant wellness through abundant daylight, natural ventilation, and direct connections to nature. Flexible furniture and lighting controls allow students and faculty to tailor the environment to their needs. Outside, native landscaping surrounds the building, offering outdoor spaces for seminars and workshops while enhancing biodiversity.
The landscaping also plays a critical role in stormwater management, with planted swales and bioretention basins mitigating runoff and supporting sustainability efforts.
Adaptability is a cornerstone of the IEC. Flexible spaces and an expandable IT infrastructure ensure the building can evolve alongside technological advancements. Live-streaming capabilities and transparent workshop enclosures provide a public showcase of STEM activities, inspiring curiosity and achievement.
“The IEC embraces its premise of responding to ever-changing technological needs,” So says.
The IEC stands as a testament to Masters School’s commitment to innovation and collaboration. By marrying cutting-edge design with the school’s storied traditions, it sets a new standard for educational facilities. “We hope that the IEC will serve the needs of students and faculty in years to come and be embraced as a key component for learning and development,” So says.
