Children’s Friend, Althea Street

Providence, RI

At A Glance:

• Renovation and Addition
• 21,820 s.f.
• Historic Restoration

Project Description:

Vision 3 Architects is fortunate to work with Children’s Friend on many projects and honored to have been a part of this one. In general, the project is defined as an interior and exterior renovation, and expansion, of the existing Asa Messer School Annex, originally known as the Althea Street Elementary School. Originally constructed in 1895-1896, the structure was deemed a historic structure having significance in the area of education. The work consists of preserving and restoring existing historically-significant and character defining features on the interior and exterior of the building.

The Project includes a two-story 2,091 +/- s.f. building addition with a 1,116 +/- s.f. basement. The building addition accommodates a new accessible building entrance, reception area, and a new elevator. The new program space features six new preschool classrooms, new children’s restrooms, faculty offices, a food prep area; and administrative offices on the first and second floors. The basement-level includes support spaces, a multi-purpose space for local community use, and utility spaces. Common areas include meeting space, staff restrooms, and storage.

Additional improvements included replacement of all HVAC, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems. The site improvements include new site utilities, new playground area, new fencing, site lighting, new walkways, new parking area, and new landscape areas. The facility incorporates multiple sustainable design features, including a high-performance energy efficient HVAC system that provides individual space climate control, low water consumption plumbing fixtures, hands-free automated faucets, low VOC emitting finishes, high U-value performance glazing and window systems, and a thermally improved building envelope exceeding energy code minimum requirements. The building also features the latest security and control access technology consisting of biometrics access to provide security control to and from the daycare spaces.