Following our previous visit to San Francisco-based WRNS Studio, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to Connecticut this week to explore the work of Newman Architects.

Based in New Haven, the firm was founded in 1964 with the principle of “creating functional, nurturing environments that have a sense of belonging to the communities they serve.” Over the following decades, the firm has built a portfolio including educational, commercial, and community projects which have garnered over 150 awards, including an AIA/ALA Library Building Award for their Slover Library in Norfolk, VA.

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for a Marketing Coordinator / Graphic Designer to join their New Haven office. For candidates interested in applying for a position, or anybody interested in learning about the firm’s output, we have rounded up three education projects by Newman Architects that exemplify the studio’s ethos.

Lynn University Snyder Sanctuary, Boca Raton, FL

Located on Lynn University’s campus in Boca Raton, FL, the Snyder Sanctuary comprises a 1,700-square-foot sanctuary with a lobby, lounge, preparatory room, and classrooms. Viewed from the exterior, a spiral form is informed by galaxies, flowers, and hurricanes, with a “natural, mathematical pattern” giving a sense of movement and permanence. Meanwhile, skylights bring natural light into the main space, capable of hosting chamber music concerts, poetry readings, and classes.

“The Sanctuary draws on various elements to reflect a variety of concepts about spirituality found in cultures across the Earth and connects them with timeless themes found throughout nature,” the team explains. “Seven walls lean on each other to create a spiral form. The walls are structurally interdependent. This aspect of the design is meant to symbolize the interdependence of all living things.”

Walter P. Carter/Lois T. Murray Elementary/Middle Schools, Baltimore, MD

The new public buildings in Northeast Baltimore see the Walter P. Carter and Lois T. Murray Schools combined into one campus. An immediate challenge for the team was a steep topography across the site varying by over two stories, which resulted in a wide floorplate that nestles the building into the center of the site. The site arrangement was also designed to ensure construction could take place while the existing school remained in session.

“The low-rise massing, the visual connective tissue of brick, and casual rhythm of ribbon windows help the large building fit into its residential Baltimore rowhouse context,” the team explains. “The size and placement of windows indicate function: larger windows for gathering spaces, smaller for classrooms, and articulated slots to mark vertical circulation. Contrasting light and dark brick brings a modern character to a traditional school building material, highlighted with a pattern of shimmering manganese that shifts color throughout the day. The angles of the building’s wings partially enclose outdoor rooms containing playgrounds, an outdoor classroom, and a community plaza.”

East Rock Community Magnet School, New Haven, CT

The East Rock Community Magnet School was designed to take advantage of the latest understanding of how physical environments impact learning and human development. Located in a transitional zone between industrial, highway, and urban residential areas, the building is designed to settle into its sloping site, allowing multiple at-grade entrances on two levels. Inside, the efficient plan is configured as a series of neighborhoods respecting the needs of various age groups.

“Shared by all are common areas, organized around a central gymnasium,” the team explains. “Creating an environment conducive to ‘situational awareness,’ extensive use of impact-resistant, sound-absorbing glass on the interior ensures that from the entrances to the school at both levels there are vistas through the school. After school, and in emergencies, the classroom neighborhoods can be separated from the common spaces, providing increased security and safety.”

Meet Your Next Employer is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our Job Highlights series looks at intriguing and topical employment opportunities currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.