the nest at wheeler

Primarily located in downtown Providence, the Wheeler School has always had a second, rural campus about 15 minutes away in Seekonk, MA.  Known as “The Farm,” the campus had been predominantly used for athletic facilities because of the density of downtown Providence. On the heels of the pandemic, the school recognized the importance of wellness and social space that supports academic learning, and reconsidered The Farm for additional programming. Following a master plan of both campuses, designLAB was engaged to execute a series of structures aimed at re-imagining the farm as a hub for nature-based programming.

The Farm Campus Pool envisions an eight-lane competition swimming pool to support athletics and summer camp recreation, as well as a training pool for the lower grades and a splash-pad. These are designed to be nestled into the natural farm aesthetic, and designed with a removable dome for year-round use. Adjacent is a pool house designed with locker and changing rooms, showers, life-guard and staff support space, allowing the pool to operate during sporting events and other community recreational activities.