Arrowstreet’s design for Blackstone Valley Prep (BVP) High School incorporates a contextual building and site development consistent with the scale, look, and feel of the town of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and the neighborhood. With its rich industrial history, the town experienced a dramatic population increase with the growth of wood-framed residential and small commercial buildings. The school needed to reflect a modern design that fits within the character of its surroundings.The building’s form is generated from the organizational placement of 4 key programs: the classroom wing, the cafeteria, the gymnasium, and the outdoor academic courtyard. The design also delivers a dedicated makerspace and robotics lab for students, a full-size gymnasium with regulation basketball court, a pre-collegiate environment with social breakout and collaboration spaces, and an open media commons.

When it came to the design, the school wanted an environment that was colorful and inspiring but didn’t look or feel like a traditional high school. Turning to BVP’s own culture for inspiration, our Graphics Studio developed a series of environmental graphics that complement and enhance the architecture and add the desired wow factor.

The overall concept features P.R.I.D.E. (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, and Enthusiasm), the school’s core set of principles. Oversized letters on colorful accent walls are paired with quotes chosen by members of the BVP community. Each letter is set in a different typeface to represent BVP’s diverse community of people and ideas. The graphics are strategically placed throughout the school to inspire and encourage staff and scholars each day. At the school’s entrance, BVP’s mission statement is surrounded by individual photos of each of the scholars, designed to emphasize the critical role they play as the centerpiece of the community.

The contemporary use of industrialized materials such as natural cedar planks, clapboard cladding, and corrugated metal are both consistent with the architecture of the neighborhood and echo the history and heritage of Cumberland as a landmark for the textile movement. The two-story mass is envisioned as a neighborhood school with a contemporary yet contextual feel.