By Philip Beebe

Wondering what the noise the last few months on the corner of Cedar Street and Grandview Avenue has been about? That’s just Rye Country Day School digging and drilling its way into the future of their education system.

The Cohen Center for the Creative Arts is progressing full STEAM ahead. In doing so, an outdated girls’ gymnasium, once called the Lower School Multipurpose Room, was taken down.

In an interview with the paper last week, Headmaster Scott Nelson explained that while the women’s basketball court inside the now-demolished gym was once regulation size standards changed over time making the court outmoded. In recent years, Mr. Nelson added, “The gym was underutilized, used more for wrestling and fencing team practice and miscellaneous events.”

As part of a campaign with the school, “Advancing a Tradition of Excellence”, Rye Country Day decided to strengthen its arts and STEAM programs. The Cohen Center will also free up other spaces in the school that have been used for things like studio art and theatre.

When asked if he thought the building was a good long-term investment for the school, Mr. Nelson said the Cohen Center is set to serve the needs of the school for at least 40 years. The complex will be fitted with energy-efficient lighting as well as windows which will bring more daylight inside. Custom thermostats throughout the school will help with overall energy use.

And Rye Country Day has another major project set to begin: enlarging the Edward B. Dunn Performing Arts Center and outfitting it with stadium-style seating to give those in the audience better sightlines.

Mr. Nelson expects the Cohen Center to be completed by next summer.

Be sure to keep your hard hats on for the rest of this journey.

Caption

Rendering of the new Cohen Center for the Creative Arts