Independent Schools

Fay School – Campus Master Plan

Southborough, MA

Founded in 1866, Fay School is an independent school serving boarding and day school grades PK-9 on its 66-acre campus. In 2016, the Board of Trustees completed work to refine their mission, vision, and strategic direction. They recognized that their existing facilities needed upgrades to align with the strategic plan and engaged DRA to develop a master plan.

The specific scope of included the review and incorporation of existing data and previous studies, the verification of known needs, the identification of previously unknown needs, a prioritization of needs, and the development of alternatives that best align campus facilities with their three major strategic goals –   leadership, globalization, and technology.

When we first visited the campus it was clear that relationship-building was central to the culture, mission and success of Fay School as an educational institution. DRA’s process reflected this culture and honored the input of a diverse set of stakeholders. Through four major overlapping phases: Collecting, Listening, Visioning, and Documentation we developed a plan.

The listening phase revealed a wide range of identified needs grouped into four key categories – Student Life, Academics, Athletics and Campus Future.

The preliminary planning spurred further investigation and conceptual planning for an Innovation Lab to serve all grade levels.

Additional studies included Student Housing, Student Center, Band Room and Administration Office. Work was completed in 2017.