The Great Room at Thieriot House at St Mark's School is a social space that bridges the boys' and girls' dormitory wings of the building. This is a space where students would gather to watch moves, do homework, and host social events. The room itself has a grandness to it, but lacked a cohesive vision for the variety of uses, furniture, and school energy. In addition to student life functions, the Great Room part of the recruitment tours, and St Mark's wanted to renovate the space to be an exciting feature for prospective students, as well as an active space for resident students.
The original color scheme of the room was all white, where some of the grandness of the ceiling detail became washed out. By adding a contrasting color to the white detailing, the existing ceiling became a bigger statement within the space. The new lighting selected was intended to create a defined work/study zone, and by suspending them, they do not disrupt ceiling architecture. All new furniture was selected with the help of Connors Contract Furniture (Milton, MA) to define both a work/study area and a relaxation / entertainment area. New built in counters and casework by WoodCraft Designers & Builders provided work surfaces along the perimeter for students and special events, and also keeps the entertainment areas free of visible wires.
It was important for this space to reflect the student body at St Mark's. To accomplish this, the walls were equipped with hardware to hang artwork. The school's art department will be able to utilize these areas as a rotating display to showcase the student work.
All photos © Steve Fellmeth
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