Church Farm School sought to transform a former maintenance shop into a consolidated home for the school’s creative programs. In the comprehensive planning VMA reoriented the entry sequence to the school to  create a pedestrian oriented campus, making the Buck Center the first building experienced by visitors, thereby highlighting the school’s dynamic commitment to the arts.

At the heart of the building, a high bay for vehicle maintenance is now converted into a hub for performance and display.  Studios for music, choir, painting, ceramics, and other media are arranged around the perimeter of the building and connected by a central hallway. A terrace on the exterior, accessible through the various studios, provides working space for traditional plein air art or for especially messy projects. The ceilings, in many spaces, have been raised to the underside of the roof to create a sense of high volume. Careful acoustics and sound separation techniques reduce noise transfer. Lastly, the interior design is deliberately tranquil, with a palette of off-whites and soft gray that serve as a backdrop to student creative pursuits.