The School's newly expanded Lobby and Lower Gym met with great applause at a formal ribbon-cutting and opening on October 17. Much to the delight of an enthusiastic audience of parents, faculty and students, Headmaster Stephen M. Clement, III, and Board of Trustees President James S. Chanos – aided by many of the individuals connected with the project – cut a ribbon to formally inaugurate these fine facilities.

Director of Institutional Advancement Marty Haase noted, “The improvements are obvious the moment one enters the School, with a widened lobby area and an expansive vista of the Lower Gym afforded by a ¾” tempered glass wall that replaces the metal grate. The observation deck/walkway has been widened to facilitate traffic flow to the Upper Cafeteria – an improvement that has garnered praise from everyone, even the youngest Lower School students. Well-lit and airy, the renovated lobby creates a warm welcome for first-time visitors to Browning, as well as the entire school community.”

He added, “Entering the gym downstairs, the 30 percent expansion of usable space is immediately noticeable, as is the bright, natural light at the far end afforded by two skylights. A new portable, modular platform stage allows for theatrical and public speaking events as needed." The day after the official opening, the Middle School boys christened the new basketball backstops by sinking the first of many baskets to come.

The Lobby and Gym renovations are the first phase of Browning’s Master Plan, developed in concert with the architectural firm of Peter Gisolfi and Associates, to enhance the communal and educational spaces of the current facility while retaining much of the unique ambiance that defines Browning. Keep watching for the plans, now in development, for a spring 2012 roll-out. Click here to view photos.