Miles Perez’25
The Frederick Gunn School, enclosed in the hills of Washington, Connecticut, is a prestigious boarding school institution with a deep commitment to providing its students with a well-rounded and challenging academic experience. The school’s campus is not only steeped in tradition but also showcases modern and old-school infrastructure, merging the historical with the contemporary. Its dormitories and academic buildings have been carefully crafted to provide both comfort and functionality, ensuring that students thrive in an environment conducive to learning, growth, and community.
The dormitories at the Frederick Gunn School, referred to as Houses, are a prime example of thoughtful, student-centered design. The buildings, while modern in their amenities, maintain the classic New England aesthetic with stone facades and traditional gabled roofs. Communal areas within the dorms, such as common room areas are designed to accommodate group work if needed, which enhances the overall sense of connection among students.
The school’s campus benefits from state-of-the-art facilities that support both academic and extracurricular activities, such as modern buildings like the Lizzie and TPACC, along with athletic buildings such as the Ogden D. Miller Memorial building and Emerson Fitness Center. Sustainable design principles are also integrated into many of the structures, with energy-efficient heating systems and many more sustainable materials that are key factors for comfortability and a home-like environment.
Bourne, a historic mansion on campus, was built and designed by wool merchant Edward van Ingen in the 1870s. It is now a boys dorm that holds about 50 students. It is one of the most aesthetic buildings on campus, bringing a classic and traditional vibe to the Gunn community. It is not only a House, but it is also used for college counseling and holds many faculty offices, including the Head of School’s office. One annual event that occurs in this building is the poetry recitation, which takes place in the Reading Room, which is a favorite spring event for students. Tradition is important in the Gunn community, and the Bourne reading room adds to the feel of this event. Overall, the design and infrastructure of Frederick Gunn School’s dorms and buildings reflect a balance of tradition and innovation.
