Berkshire Waldorf High School Secures $4M Donation
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Waldorf High School announced that it has received $4 million from an anonymous donor toward renovation of Procter Hall, the Old Town Hall at 6 Main Street.
The school has completed the architectural phase of the project design and construction is now underway. Pamela Sandler, AIA, is the lead architect on the project, and Marois Construction is on-site doing the actual renovation. The project includes remediation of asbestos and lead paint, the addition of an elevator and sprinkler system, a redesign of the interior, and preservation of the upstairs meeting room and other historical features.
Berkshire Waldorf High School Executive Director Stephen Sagarin said he is thrilled and grateful for the gift, saying that that capital campaign donations earmarked to fund the renovation will enable the school "to double our current square footage, including creation of more and larger classrooms and science labs, while allowing us to remain in Stockbridge within walking distance of the town center. The construction should be complete by summer 2025."
"The Town of Stockbridge is well on its way of realizing its two–decades-old dream of finding a permanent use for this early 19th century historic structure," added Teresa O'Brient, chair of the board of trustees of Berkshire Waldorf High School, a longtime Stockbridge resident, and owner of the Stockbridge Country Store. "The community really stepped up to help us realize this dream."
The First Congregational Church, UCC, Stockbridge, voted last year to sell the building to Berkshire Waldorf High School. The Town of Stockbridge Selectboard and Planning Board approved the zoning variances this past winter. The sale closed in February 2024 and the school has been working closely with both the Church and the Stockbridge Golf Club to ensure that all parties' parking needs are met during construction.
Berkshire Waldorf High School CFO Patrick White observed that with this donation, funding for more than 80 percent of the anticipated construction budget is now in place.
"We've already seen a significant need to tap into contingency funds, specifically related to availability of electrical services and the need to reinforce beams in both the front and the back of the building," he said. "We are confident the community will support this capital campaign and get us over the finish line."
White referenced plans to keep in place the jail from Old Town Hall, made famous by the brief incarceration of Arlo Guthrie and Rick Robbins memorialized in Arlo's "Alice's Restaurant" song and film.
"This location has so much history, spanning the Mohican era, the central role in the Indian Town experiment, and its place in modern Berkshire lore," White said. "We plan to honor history as we embrace this new era for the school and the community."
Berkshire Waldorf High School is currently located in rented space on Pine Street in Stockbridge. The school is 22 years old and next month will graduate its 18th senior class. The school's tagline, "Small school, big world," conveys its commitment to the community and beyond.
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