Ashley Hall Launches New Humanities Hub in $10 Million Historic Campus Renovation

CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ashley Hall, the only independent girls' school in South Carolina, today welcomed leaders from Charleston's business, academic, and preservation communities as it officially opened Warren Street House, the School's new Humanities center and a signature component of a $10 million investment in the redesign of its historic urban campus. Warren Street House is a symbol of Ashley Hall's dedication to a classical education innovated for the 21st century.

The renovation of six historic buildings to repurpose nearly 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art classroom, laboratory, and collaborative environments delivers on the School's commitment to deep learning, healthy development, high achievement, and community impact.

At the same time, Ashley Hall Head of School Jill Muti announced the School's bold plan to expand its footprint globally with the launch of a new Italian campus in Charleston's cultural sister city of Spoleto, Italy. The new campus will provide Ashley Hall students, teachers, and alumnae with immersive education opportunities that connect languages, the arts, and sciences against the backdrop of a historic center of creativity. The Spoleto campus is part of a national initiative – spearheaded and led by Ashley Hall and two other independent schools, The Culver Academies and Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, under the umbrella of Spoleto Study Abroad – to fully utilize the campus throughout the year for like-minded, independent schools.

The new campus takes Ashley Hall's global mindset beyond its Charleston classrooms and international boarding program to the world stage. Its location — in a historically and culturally significant town dating from pre-Roman times — today is known as a place where curious and talented people come together to study and explore ideas that influence thought leadership.

"There has never been a more important time for young women's voices to be heard, and Ashley Hall's dynamic education in Charleston and abroad prepares our students to be self-reliant, independent thinkers in our complex global world," Muti said. Ashley Hall students planted an olive tree on the lawn of Warren Street House as a symbol of the School's classical connection.

Speakers included Charleston Mayor Pro Tem A. Peter Shahid, Jr.; Betsy Kirkland Cahill '79, Chair of the Board of the Preservation Society of Charleston; Kevin Mooney, Executive Vice President and President of General Markets Group at Blackbaud; Donatella della Porta, Honorary President of the Dante Alighieri Society; and Artie Richards, Chair of Ashley Hall Board of Trustees. Together, they addressed the power of Ashley Hall's cross-disciplinary education to cultivate among its students a global mindset infused with an appreciation for Charleston's vibrant past and future.

"By undertaking a creative and purposeful re-imagining of this building's function while respecting its historic form, Jill Muti and her team have performed an enormous service to the neighborhood, the preservation world, and perhaps most importantly, the Ashley Hall community," Cahill said.

"Our $10 million investment is enhancing our robust programmatic offerings at every stage of our students' growth and is fortifying Ashley Hall's reputation as the leading independent girls' school in the Southeast," Muti said.

The six buildings on campus will become innovative learning environments for Ashley Hall students from pre-k to 12th grade:

• Warren Street House. This c. 1820 humanities flagship will serve Upper School students with a combination of traditional, experiential, and flexible classrooms, including a living laboratory and culinary area, and an expansive admission office for prospective families.
• Student Life Center. This redesigned 6,000 square-foot center for leadership, service, and positive development will keep Ashley Hall at the forefront of the wellness movement supporting the emotional and physical health of girls.
• Elizabeth Rivers Lewine '54 House for Global Studies. This c. 1876 10,000-square foot architectural gem was acquired and artfully restored five years ago to further advance the School's premier caliber language curriculum, global studies, and international boarding experience.
• Intermediate Program at Keith House. Counteracting the potential plunge in girls' confidence during early adolescence, Ashley Hall will strengthen its fifth and sixth grade students' success with a 1,000 square-foot science and innovation laboratory and new, fully-appointed classroom spaces.
• Jenkins Hall Science Laboratories. Critical science programming and two new laboratories will reinforce Upper School students' college preparedness.
• Lodome at Pardue Hall. This magnificent multipurpose space offers Lower School students a central location for STEAM activities and collaborative learning.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Charleston community leaders as well as parents, students, and alumnae.

About Ashley Hall

Ashley Hall, a premier independent school in the Southeast for girls, is dedicated to deep learning, healthy development, high achievement, and community impact. With its proven foundation in classical education—enriched by inquiry-based, experiential learning—Ashley Hall provides a unique environment in which girls become self-reliant, independent thinkers at each stage of their development. Founded nearly 110 years ago as a groundbreaking college preparatory school for women, Ashley Hall is at the forefront of girls' education and leadership, with local and global expansion, proven curriculum, and meaningful community connections. Against the backdrop of women's growing voices, Ashley Hall today is demonstrating that its enduring brand of girls' education is more relevant than ever. http://www.ashleyhall.org

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