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5000 Clubside Road
Lyndhurst, Ohio 44124-2595
440.423.4446
12465 County Line Road, P.O. Box 8002
Gates Mills, Ohio 44040-8002
440.423.4446
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Q: Why is Hawken School creating an urban extension campus in University
Circle?
A: As an outcome of Hawken's strategic planning process, the School is investing in a
physical location in Cleveland that will serve as a locus for experiential and service
learning for the students.
Hawken believes students need authentic experience in the real world to make
meaning from knowledge. The Hawken School Sally and Bob Gries Center at
University Circle will enable collaborations with some of the greatest academic,
cultural and scientific organizations in the world. Furthermore, a physical location
in Cleveland, near to where Hawken was founded, demonstrates a commitment to
the vitality and future of the city.
Q: Where is the Gries Center at University Circle located?
A: Commonly known as the "Ferris House," the property is located at 10924 Magnolia
Drive in Cleveland, Ohio—200 yards from Wade Oval.
Q: Who is Hawken purchasing the property from?
A: The Western Reserve Historical Society.
Q: Is it a historic property?
A: Yes, the property was built in 1910 and has strong architectural features.
Q: Will the property be renovated?
A: Yes, renovations may begin as early as summer 2008 and Hawken anticipates the
Center to be open to students by fall 2009.
Q: Who is doing the renovation?
A: An RFP process to engage an architect is underway.
Q: What factors will guide building renovations?
A: Renovation decisions will be determined by a combination of academic
programming needs, historic preservation requirements, and green building
principles. We are exploring ways to involve students in faculty-led planning,
designing and the actual renovation process.
Q: How many classrooms/students will the property accommodate?
A: The 8,023 square-foot building will accommodate between five and six classrooms
with an additional office space.
Programming
Q: How will Hawken students benefit from this expansion and what types of
activities and educational opportunities will students experience at the Gries
Center at University Circle?
A: In the coming months, Hawken School will engage its faculty and community
members in dynamic discussions to explore forward-focused programming.
Students will benefit from collaborations with world-class academic, scientific and
cultural organizations, and will also learn and contribute to Cleveland through
meaningful service-based projects. The Gries Center at University Circle also will
give students a deeper understanding and appreciation for their hometown—Cleveland.
Q: Are there other independent schools with a city campus?
A: We believe this urban extension campus to be the first of its kind among suburban
independent schools in the region, and one of the first of its kind in the country.
Q: Will the Gries Center at University Circle be open to all students, including
Lower, Middle and Upper School students?
A: While at this time we are still in the planning stages, we anticipate the Gries Center
at University Circle being available for all grade levels at various points throughout
the school year.
Q: Isn't Montessori School doing something similar?
The Gries Center at University Circle is unique because it provides an urban
extension campus for students of all ages from its Gates Mills and Lyndhurst
locations. Students will leave their traditional school environment and travel to the campus at intervals throughout the year.
Hawken has been educating students in Cleveland since 1915, when the school was founded in University Circle. The Montessori School is a brand new school serving high-school
students only.
Experiential and service learning opportunities will be a focal point for students
utilizing the Gries Center at University Circle. Hawken envisions engaging a
variety of community partners to enrich Hawken students' classroom experience
with hands-on learning to help them make meaning from knowledge.
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