Durkee, Brown wins public school project

PROVIDENCE – Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects won its first contract with a public school district, the firm said last week.
Durkee, Brown secured a $106,000 contract with the Little Compton School District to produce schematic designs for a renovated and expanded Wilbur & McMahon School, the town’s combined elementary and middle school building. It expects to deliver the plans by October.
Company Principle Doug Brown said the district planned to use the plans in its application to the state that seeks partial financing of the project. If the state approves, voters will need to approve a bond to pay for the work at the town’s only public school. (High school students attend school in nearby Portsmouth.)
The architectural firm will partner with Pennsylvania-based Burt Hill Architects to craft preliminary plans for the school that dates to 1929 and includes subsequent additions. Brown said he hoped the two firms would win the contract to design the final plans if the project moves forward.
Brown said several years ago the firm sought to expand into public school work by hiring employees with specialized knowledge. The Little Compton project represents the company’s first major success in winning a contract, Brown said.
“It’s great, especially since that’s always the largest obstacle in our business: getting your opportunity to do your first job,” Brown said.
Even so, Brown said the Little Compton project would be atypical because of the strong emphasis on protecting the historical character of the structure. The building sits on the town common, a traditional New England town center dating back to 1677.