Left to right: Concord Middle School, Hunnewell Elementary School
SMMA is proud to announce that two of our K-12 school projects received awards at the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) Northeast Chapter’s 2026 Northeast Regional Conference on June 10, 2026 in Rochester, NY.
Concord Middle School in Concord, MA was awarded the 2026 Northeast Region Edward Kirkbride Award, the chapter’s highest recognition for excellence in educational facility planning and design. Hunnewell Elementary School in Wellesley, MA received a 2026 Project of Distinction Award, recognizing exemplary design solutions that support innovation in learning environments.
The awards were accepted on behalf of SMMA by educational planner Rosemary Park and recently retired colleague Phil Poinelli.
These recognitions underscore SMMA’s continued leadership in designing high-performance schools that bring together educational vision, community values, and forward-thinking design.
Designed in partnership with associate architects EwingCole, the new Concord Middle School unites previously separated grades in a single, purpose-built facility that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and connection to the natural environment.
The 140,000+ square-foot school for grades 6-8 replaces two outdated facilities with a unified campus organized around team-based learning neighborhoods, where clusters of classrooms share commons that encourage interdisciplinary teaching and social connection. Situated within a wooded landscape, the design integrates outdoor learning environments, daylighting, and natural materials to foster student well-being and strengthen connections to nature.
Hunnewell Elementary School provides a flexible, inclusive learning environment that responds to the evolving needs of K-5 students and educators in Wellesley, MA. Through careful planning and collaboration with the Wellesley Public Schools community, the design creates a vibrant and adaptable setting for teaching and learning, supported by grade-based neighborhood “hubs”.
Presented annually, the A4LE Northeast Region awards celebrate projects that exemplify innovation, sustainability, and a deep understanding of how the built environment can enhance learning.
