the nest at wheeler

Primarily located in downtown Providence, the Wheeler School has always had a second, rural campus about 15 minutes away in Seekonk, MA.  Known as “The Farm,” the campus had been predominantly used for athletic facilities because of the density of downtown Providence. On the heels of the pandemic, the school recognized the importance of wellness and social space that supports academic learning, and reconsidered The Farm for additional programming. Following a master plan of both campuses, designLAB was engaged to execute a series of structures aimed at re-imagining the farm as a hub for nature-based programming.

The Nest at Wheeler provides an early childhood education that meets the developmental needs of each child through joyful, hands-on, experiential learning in the natural world. designLAB created a new home for the Nest that mimics a series of cabins - one for each classroom. Each cabin classroom has direct access to the outdoors, a porch for gathering and hanging clothes, and a mudroom for all the stuff that comes with little kiddos. The cabins are connected with supporting functions such as bathrooms, offices, and storage; and form two larger structures with a courtyard between them and surrounded by a range of age-appropriate play spaces. The building design reinforces the nature-based curriculum and inspires a love of learning and connection to the natural world.