Newton Early Childhood Program

Arrowstreet was hired to address the growing demand for enrollment by repurposing and renovating an existing Elementary School in Newton, MA. The objective was to relocate the Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP), a district-wide integrated preschool catering to children aged 2.9 to under 6 years old. The program accommodates 200 full-time and 100 part-time students, including those with special needs who receive speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. The preschool also integrates typically developing students as community peers.

As NECP serves the entire City of Newton and the community relies heavily on car and van transportation, the site design was strategically planned. It includes a protected van loop to facilitate easy accessibility for transported students. Furthermore, an underutilized patio along Albemarle Road was transformed into an inviting plaza and front entry, designed to foster a sense of community, and serve as a gathering space.

Inside the building, the existing upper-level classrooms were redesigned with shared jack-and-jill bathrooms and interspersed small therapy break-out rooms. These modifications were made to better cater to the students’ needs, daily operations, and educational programs. The middle level received the biggest intervention with the insertion of two new classrooms in a previously double-height space. These spaces were essential to serving the growing population and evolving needs of the community.

The lowest level provides an inviting atmosphere to welcome guests, students, and staff. The double-height main lobby serves as the hub, with a vibrant art installation that incorporates the NECP students as the artists. The adjacent main office, staff work areas, and conference rooms serve the daily needs of parents, staff, and therapist meetings.

The façade along Albemarle was opened up to strengthen connections between the office and classroom spaces and the outdoors. NECP’s existing playground equipment was relocated from its previous site, and new landscaping and plantings helped create a welcoming, permanent home for the program.