On Monday, November 28, students returned from Thanksgiving break and moved into the impressive new Patterson-Sculley House at St. Mark's, named in honor of the donors whose generosity made this residential life initiative possible: Arthur Patterson '62 and Louise Muhlfeld Patterson SS'76; David Patterson '66, P'98; John Sculley '57; and David Sculley '64.
Our School community has been anticipating and preparing for the "big move" for months, and it was worth the wait. Now 142 students, the majority of whom were living on West Campus, are residing right next door to the Main Building in an expansive and sustainable 90,000-square-foot residence hall which operates without the use of fossil fuels.
Students and families were all smiles on move-in day, as they toted suitcases and boxes full of belongings into their new home away from home. "We so love the thoughtful emphasis on functional communal spaces and the abundant natural light. Thank you for a fun move-in day and for this wonderful space!" shared one parent. "More like the Patterson-Sculley five-star hotel! Wow!" exclaimed another.
Thanks to ambitious fundraising during the decade-long Lives of Consequence campaign, Patterson-Sculley House also includes 12 faculty apartments, eight group study rooms, a communal kitchen, and a 1,300-square-foot "classroom in the sky" overlooking Belmont Field. Solar panels line the roof of the all-electric building, which uses low-flow fixtures and Red List Free materials in the living spaces, as well as reclaimed wood harvested from trees on campus.
With a design that fosters meaningful connections throughout the building—from large, light-filled common areas that support the strengthening of community, to smaller lounges and study spaces—Patterson-Sculley House is a place to collaborate. Here, St. Markers can gather for an evening study session with friends, host a movie night in the Commons, or even cook together in the communal kitchen.
The new Patterson-Sculley House has transformed the St. Mark's campus, honoring founder Joseph Burnett's vision of a "School under one roof" and bringing our community even closer together.
Photos by Rob Kuklewicz and David Vachris.