Study Completed 2025 31,000 square feet
Renovation

The Ohrstrom Library at St. Paul’s School—a prestigious college-preparatory boarding school set on a 2,000-acre campus in Concord, New Hampshire—opened in 1991. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the 32,000-square-foot building has experienced significant changes in both the scope and nature of student use over the past three decades. Oudens Ello Architecture was engaged to define future program and space-planning needs as a critical first step toward a comprehensive renovation of the library.

Oudens Ello Architecture led a holistic planning study that folded critical deferred maintenance into an overall reimagining of the library as a contemporary academic and social hub for the campus. The study evaluated the building in its entirety, including exterior envelope repairs, building systems modernization, code and accessibility upgrades, and strategic architectural interventions to support evolving modes of study, collaboration, and teaching.

Architecturally, the study recommends targeted renovations throughout the library to expand and diversify learning environments. Proposed improvements include new private and group study rooms, flexible classrooms, lounge and wellness spaces, a makerspace, and enhanced staff work areas. Emphasis was placed on improving circulation, access to daylight, transparency, and universal accessibility, reinforcing the library’s role as an inviting and adaptable campus destination. The resulting plan establishes a clear framework for either phased or single-mobilization implementation, aligning long-term stewardship of the building with the academic mission and future needs of St. Paul’s School.