Berrybrook School’s new farmhouse: First Look

     Duxbury, MA March 2, 2007—Berrybrook School this week displayed renderings of the new farmhouse to be built beside the existing farmhouse on the school’s grassy, pastoral grounds.
     Designed by Vcevold Strekalovsky of Strekalovsky Architects in Hingham, the 5,800-square-foot Cape-style farmhouse will contain three handicapped-accessible classrooms along with enhanced entrance and cubby space, gross motor space, and other touches that ensure a distinctive Berrybrook feel and flavor.
     “The main goal was to design a farmhouse that would capture the essence of the Berrybrook philosophy and setting, while incorporating more modern spatial and educational elements,” Strekalovsky said.
     The drawings were displayed at an open house held on February 28 for parents, neighbors, and Berrybrook Corporation members. School officials hope to have the new farmhouse ready for students by early 2008.
     Berrybrook has been operating since 1954, serving 3- and 4-year-old children in morning and afternoon sessions.
     A newly-formed committee will help the Berrybrook Board of Directors determine an appropriate future use of the existing farmhouse, which was found to contain significant amounts of lead paint during an inspection last year. The board subsequently voted to construct the new farmhouse for classes and maintain the existing farmhouse.
     Students have been attending classes in temporary classrooms on Berrybrook grounds since January.