Seventh grader Eve Collymore likes the blue lockers, and said it’s nice to have more tables where she can study and talk with friends. Eighth graders Morgan Gales, Chloe Pennington and their friends agreed that the expanded lounge area with more chairs is a highlight, while seventh grader Lila Bhatia was impressed by the new lights.

“It looks the way a school should look,” Morgan said. “It just makes a good experience.”

This is the kind of enthusiasm for the space that Middle School Division Head Jenn Moynihan likes to hear.

“The new aesthetic matches the energy of our students, and creates a bright and welcoming space that our students and teachers deserve to learn and teach at their very best,” she said. “Now we have this bright, modern design that feels much more in alignment with all the good learning that’s happening all day long.”

The Middle School renovation began in early June 2024 and wrapped up just before school started. It included updating the Middle School’s entryway, student lounges, display spaces, locker areas, and connecting hallways. The Middle School’s classrooms and science labs have been renovated in recent years—Ellis partnered with architects from PWWG and general contractor Jendoco Construction to remodel the Middle School science labs in 2022, and worked with these firms again for the 2024 project—but the building’s common spaces hadn’t been updated since the 1970s. Now, teachers say the building feels complete.

Thanks to the generosity of a number of current Ellis parents, faculty, staff, alumnae, parents of alumnae, and trustees, the School received commitments totaling over $610,000 towards the renovation project. Claire Devereux, Director of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement, said that this support is more than an investment in a building—it’s an investment in the dreams and ambitions of every student that will grace its halls.

“It feels like the Middle School is complete now,” said Ms. Moynihan. “It also feels similar in design to the Upper School, but unique in a way that it’s clear that the Middle School is its own space. We’re so grateful for all of the donors who continue to support the mission of the school and believe in the importance of students learning in a space deserving of all of their intellectual curiosity, enthusiasm and joy.”