Berkshire Country Day School to Break Ground

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Rendering of new Kevin Hirt Library and Learning Commons

• Rendering of Kim and James Music and Performance Room

STOCKBRIDGE/LENOX, MA (06/08/2016)(readMedia)-- Berkshire Country Day School ("BCD") will break ground on a new library and performance room this Friday, June 10, creating a dramatic upgrade to the 70-year-old institution while preserving the beauty of the School's historic campus.

The independent school for students in preschool through grade nine will simultaneously break ground on the Kim and James Taylor Music and Performance Room and the Kevin Hirt Library and Learning Commons. Designed by Flansburgh Architects, the project will transform Furey Hall, which was originally a cow barn, into a state-of-the-art center for learning and innovation.

The ceremony will take place before a crowd of more than 200 at a community picnic on the last day of school. The groundbreaking is the result of "Fulfilling the Promise: The Campaign for BCD," which has raised $2.89 million of its $3 million goal to support both the new construction and BCD's Endowment. These gifts were made by more than 300 donors. The brief ceremony will include remarks from Head of School Paul Lindenmaier, Campaign Co-Chair and current parent Hilary Dunne Ferrone, and Campaign Co-Chair Phil Deely, BCD Class of 1961. Honored guests will include members of the Hirt and Taylor families.

The Kim and James Taylor Music and Performance Room will be a music classroom and performance space where students and members of the Berkshire community at-large can hold events for up to 100 guests. The architecture of the bright and open room will overlook the pond bringing the beauty and spirit of the Berkshires into the space. The Taylors, whose twin boys attended BCD, are enthusiastic supporters of the School and served as the Campaign's Honorary Co-Chairs. "We've seen some amazing schools," said James Taylor, who is currently on tour in Canada. "Schools with vast endowments, monumental facilities, top notch faculties, but nowhere will we hope to find the equal of BCD in heart, soul, and spirit," he said, adding, "The Taylors will always be a BCD family."

The library is named for the late Kevin Hirt '06, whose favorite class was library. Kevin suffered from neuroblastoma, an aggressive pediatric cancer. When he knew he would not survive, despite his courageous fight, ten-year-old Kevin asked his parents to donate his college fund money to BCD to support the expansion of the School's library. Fifteen years later, BCD is poised to "Fulfill the Promise" to Kevin and his family with an open-space multi-level facility that will enhance BCD's comprehensive and challenging curriculum. The library has been thoughtfully designed to foster a love of reading and provide tools that encourage innovation and creativity, and thus, connect BCD students to the wider world. His mother, Lynn Campana said, "I think Kevin would be really happy to know this is happening."

Allegrone Construction of Pittsfield won the competitive bidding process, and they expect the renovations to be complete and the new facility to open this winter. The project will be constructed without the School taking on debt.

Fulfilling the Promise: The Campaign for BCD is the result of a strategic planning process that began in 2009 and engaged hundreds of stakeholders (including faculty, students, and current and past community members). "That collective effort set the tone for intentional stewardship and set a long-term vision for BCD which is distinct in program, adventurous in spirit, and engaged in a changing world," said Paul Lindenmaier, Head of School. "Two years later, a master planning process engaged everyone again and identified important facility upgrades, and it's those top priorities that we are addressing in this Campaign."

The Endowment component of the Campaign will grow the Fund for Faculty Salaries, positioning BCD to attract, retain, and support the extraordinary faculty. A fund named for celebrated teachers, the Eugénie and Jim Fawcett Fund for Faculty Salaries, honors these professionals who have taught at BCD for a combined 83 years. On June 3, 2016, BCD announced that the School received a $25,000 challenge from an anonymous alumnus in support of this fund.

"This wonderful school has been our community for the past eight years," said Co-Chair Hilary Ferrone. "We are part of a long line of families who have been enriched by the BCD experience and have contributed to the school's growth. By supporting the capital campaign we hope to help provide future generations with the opportunities our children have had."

Co-Chair Phil Deely '61 said, "I agreed to help a BCD capital campaign one last time because I was encouraged by the financial stability and steady vision that Paul Lindenmaier and his board of trustees have brought to BCD. As a long-time fundraiser I always stress that 'donors give to excellence' and BCD exemplifies excellence as a learning community."

The Campaign Committee includes Hilary Dunne Ferrone and Chris Ferrone, (Co-Chairs), Hilary Somers Deely and Phil Deely '61 (Co-Chairs), Robert Akroyd, B. Stephen Boyd, Jennifer Capala, Jeremy Creelan, Bev and David Hosokawa, Donna Kittredge, Paul Lindenmaier (Head of School), Danny Lipson, Colin Mathews, E. Quincy McLaughlin, Paige Smith Orloff (Board President), Marianna Poutasse, and Scott Schiff '74.

The Honorary Committee includes Kim and James Taylor (Co-Chairs), Earl Albert, Sion Boney, Peter Buttenheim, Lynn Campana, Donna Elmendorf, Emily H. Fisher, Nancy Fitzpatrick, Paul Hirt, Nancy Kalodner, Jim Maxymillian, Robin McGraw, Claire Naylor Pollart, Jane Ryan, Annie Laidlaw '78 Selke, and Alli Sheehan.

The groundbreaking will be held Friday, June 10 at 12 p.m. at Berkshire Country Day School, 55 Interlaken Road, Stockbridge, MA. It is open to members of the BCD community. For more details or to RSVP, please contact Campaign Associate Jessica Provenz at 413-637-0755 x144 or jprovenz@berkshirecountryday.org. To learn more about BCD, please visit berkshirecountryday.org.