The Blake Innovation Center redefines the heart of Westminster’s campus and advances the future of STEAM learning. Designed by Ennead Architects, the 40,000-square-foot facility serves as the capstone to more than a decade of campus renewal, reshaping the historic Quad while creating new opportunities for entrepreneurship, exploration, and discovery.
“The design process turned purpose into place, taking our vision, values, aspirations for our students, and the practical realities of school life and transforming them into beautiful, useful buildings that are deeply aligned with who we are.”
Toni Boyd
Vice President for Finance and Operations, Westminster
Rooted in Westminster’s commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, the building fosters creativity, experimentation, and collaboration beyond the traditional classroom. The Center includes a ceramics studio, digital and traditional art classrooms, a student-curated gallery, a dedicated home for WCAT, robotics and computer science labs, maker spaces, and flexible social areas that support both formal instruction and student-driven innovation.
A defining feature of the project is Westminster’s interpretation of the “Spanish Steps,” cascading terraces along the Quad that create an informal gathering space for students and extend learning into the daily rhythm of campus life.
The building’s architecture carries forward Westminster’s brick and limestone tradition while introducing a contemporary transparency that reflects the School’s philosophy of “learning on display.” Studios and classrooms open onto shared spaces and outward to the Quad, reinforcing a culture of openness, inquiry, and collaboration.
The project also transforms the Quad itself, leveling the historic lawn to create a more versatile space for everyday community use and major campus events. Together, the Blake Innovation Center and renewed Quad strengthen both the academic and social life of Westminster, creating a vibrant hub where ideas spark, friendships flourish, and futures take shape.
