Rhode Island School for the Deaf

Providence, Rhode Island

RGB completed this new special needs school from planning through design and construction. The 73,500 square foot, $31 million school was built on the site of a previously existing building in Providence. The school is LEED certified. Features include high efficiency HVAC systems, envelope design, and solar shading, as well as daylighting-harvesting controls. The programming and design were unique in that classrooms emphasized visual communication systems, visual-based education, and enhanced acoustics for deaf and hard of hearing students, as well as daylighting techniques to minimize glare.

The school accommodates up to 168 pre-school through 12th grade students in 25 classrooms, including two science labs. A Village & Main Street organizational concept for the school was developed with the staff's input; this unifies the directional and visual communication systems throughout the building.