As much attention was applied to the interior details. The trusses are exposed to the interiors, and custom-designed iron chandeliers hang from the ceiling, creating a dramatic long-span dining space that recalls the grandeur of a Romanesque hall. Oversized fireplaces anchor the hall at each end as visual centerpieces, raised above the floor on a plinth to enhance their visibility from all corners. The fireplaces are carved with figures referencing other school buildings important to the school’s lore—emblazoned with an “L” for Lawrenceville and a large “V” that references the Fifth Form.
Nods to traditions like these are scattered throughout the hall, some more apparent than others. A large “L” marks the center terrazzo floor and is complemented by smaller inlaid brass medallions offering more enigmatic references to the school’s heritage—like a strawberry, an ear of corn and even a turtle. The result is a place rich with meaning that inspires a sense of belonging among Fifth Form students.
The interior design also maximizes flexibility and comfort to meet the needs of the growing student body. The hall features white-oak furniture and booth seating that accommodate dining and events. A redesigned kitchen and back-of-house spaces enhance operational capacity. The redesigned kitchen and servery make for more efficient circulation and optimize workflows, enhancing catering operations.
The high-volume, dormers, upper windows, and the light color at the ceiling and upper walls provide ample daylighting into the space throughout the day. Deep niches along the western wall help block the glaring afternoon sun. Seating alcoves are accented with stained glass inspired by the colors of the hanging house flags, further tying the dining hall to school tradition. Dispersed food and beverage stations throughout the reconfigured servery allow for better circulation, access and sightlines to the food-service stations.
History and tradition also influenced the design approach to the three private dining rooms that support the main hall. A rich shade of red, the school color, was incorporated throughout the interior design. In the Stephan Room, a flexible reconfigurable space, the walls were finished with custom wallpaper created from photographs of the surrounding campus landscape. Everywhere they look, students are reminded of The Lawrenceville School heritage and their connection to the school. The side dining rooms can also serve as spaces for breakout dining or advisee lunches, alumni meals and overflow capacity for other special events. A new cupola at the south entrance creates a sense of arrival and washes the corridor with natural light throughout the day.
Place of Pride
The redesigned Abbott Dining Hall is now a centerpiece of The Lawrenceville School’s historic campus and a place of pride for Fifth Form students. Applying innovation to the context of tradition, the design takes novel architectural approaches—like glued-laminated timber, laser-cut details and state-of-the-art space planning principles—to deliver a building that works like new and belongs more than ever before to its history.
Retrofit Team
ARCHITECT: Voith & Mactavish Architects LLP
LANDSCAPE: John Kochis Landscaping, (609) 737-8693
BRICK AND MASONRY: Gladstone Stoneworks, (908) 234-1514
ELECTRICAL: Bauer Electric Inc., (609) 587-6322
PLUMBING: Leacy’s Plumbing & Heating LLC, (908) 963-8603
MECHANICAL: D.J. Wagner Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.
STEEL: The Chowns Group
CUSTOM MILLWORK: Lititz Planing Mill Co.
CUSTOM TERRAZZO: Yorie Tile & Terrazzo Inc.
ROOFING CONTRACTOR: Bregenzer Brothers Co. Inc.
Materials
TRUSS FRAMING: MiTek
SLATE: Buckingham Slate
TILE FLOORING: Stoneline Design, (888) 504-8264
WOOD FLOORING: Authentic Reclaimed
ACOUSTIC WALLS AND CEILING: BASWA Acoustic
WINDOWS AND DOORS: Marvin
BRICK: Redland Brick
CUSTOM DINING CHAIRS: Eustis Chair
DINING TABLES: Thos. Moser
FIREPLACES: Acucraft Fireplace Systems
CUSTOM FIREPLACE CARVINGS: Vickery Stone Co.
HOUSE FLAGS: Humphrys Flag Co.
ELEVATOR: MEI
STAINED GLASS: Kokomo Opalescent Glass
PHOTOS: Jeffrey Totaro unless otherwise noted