THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN
Strengthening Our Foundations

Given the mission of St. Margaret's School, pleasant living facilities are just as important as well-equipped classrooms. "One of the most important parts of the 'education for life' that SMS provides is teaching girls how to live with others," said Head of School Margaret R. Broad. "We want students to see the homelike feel of the SMS community reflected in the physical environment of their dormitories." The recent construction of the Community/Technology Center (1999) and Woolfolk Center (1991) created exciting new settings for teaching and learning. Now, thanks to the campus master plan, the school is turning its attention to Latané Hall (1955), the dorm that houses the majority of boarding students. In its heyday, the three-story cinderblock structure was a model of student comfort. School brochures promoted Latané Hall's "fireproof" qualities, an improvement over housing girls in old wooden buildings like St. Margaret's Hall, Brockenbrough House, and the Cottage. Upgraded systems and décor will make Latané a more comfortable home for 21st-century students. One practical example that current boarders often give is the height of shower heads: perfect for keeping bouffant hairdos dry, awkward for today's taller girls. The same is true for electrical outlets. Dorm rooms have plenty to support the phonographs and reading lamps of mid-20th century residents. They don't have nearly enough to handle the computers, hairdryers, CD players, and other electronic devices that students can't live without in 2002. The improvements will benefit more than just Latané residents. "A homelike living environment can have a positive effect on student behavior and the climate of the entire school community," said Assistant Head for School Life Cathy Sgroi. "I think we'll be looking at an even happier, healthier campus." Mrs. Broad is hopeful that enough funding will be secured from individual donors to complete the project this summer. Together with air-conditioning the third-floor classrooms in St. Margaret's Hall, it's the first step in the first phase of the master plan. The timetable for renovations is ambitious but achievable, according to Buildings and Grounds Committee Chair Heather Wood '87. SMS staff will coordinate closely with a design/build contractor to ensure that work starts right after reunion weekend and ends before students report for the 2002-2003 academic year in late August. Future master plan steps call for building two smaller dormitories (on the river side of campus) near Anderton House. Students will be moved out of Latané to populate the new residence halls and reduce the average dorm census to 30. Those initiatives are a capital campaign and a number of years away. For now, the focus is on making the most of current facilities. "Whatever we do," Mrs. Broad said, "we want to have an immediate impact on the quality of life of all our students."

BETTER DORM Renovations planned for this summer will make Latané Hall a more comfortable student home. Work will include:   Reducing humidity and improving air quality by installing a new heating/ventilating/air conditioning system   Making bathrooms more user-friendly with the addition of vanity countertops and higher showerheads   Providing added power for computers and other personal electronics by increasing electrical supply to student rooms   Creating a more welcoming feeling with brighter lighting and an updated lobby area In addition, air conditioning classrooms on the third floor of St. Margaret's Hall will provide a better environment for faculty to teach and students to learn. STRONGER SCHOOL PAGE 1... .......Campus Vision PAGE 3... .......The Campaign PAGE 4... .......Latané Renovations PAGE 5... ....Latané - The New Look!