Beyond the Classroom
Boarding school is more than just living on campus. It’s about a collective of students, faculty, and staff all working together. The benefits of this immersive learning environment, of being supported and encouraged in and out of the classroom, can’t be overstated.
Eagle Hill School uniquely prioritizes the development of independent living, confidence, and responsibility as an extension of the overall student experience. The skills, both personal and interpersonal, that students develop in this environment are crucial to post-graduation success—both in college and beyond.
Equally important is that the dorms are where lifelong friendships and memories are made. The camaraderie that exists among dorm mates endures, built on the foundation of memorable moments and simple, daily routines during formative years.
A History of Housing
Eagle Hill’s dormitories have evolved through the years, mirroring the growth and improvement of the rest of campus. Starting with simple, nearly spartan dormitories and creative use of space on campus, the school endeavored to build intentionally designed homes complementing the school’s model. A balance of spaces for learning, living, and socializing, Eagle Hill’s residences offer comfortable, safe, and enjoyable homes away from home.
“During my time at Eagle hill, my dorm parents became my parents away from home. They were people who held me accountable, taught me about responsibility, and cared deeply about my success. As a kid from Michigan, it was tough to adjust being away from home. I remember Stanley and Leyva making me feel like EHS was my home. Whether we were having serious conversations about life to come in college and post grad, or just cracking jokes, every second with those guys was valuable and impactful.
I will always value the time I spent with my dorm parents as they will forever be meaningful in my life. To me, Eagle Hill is about togetherness and family and I know it was the same for them.”
—Zach Archipley ‘19 Mason, MI
Harmsworth Hall Dana Hall
Prescott Hall Enfield Hall
Campus Timeline—Major Milestones
1967 School opens Cochrane (Main) House
2005 Harmsworth Hall
Archipley Cultural Center
2013
Baglio Sports and Fitness Center
2011 WHIKS (Student Union)
2023 Village in the Woods Faculty Homes
2019 PJM STEM Center
A Vision for the Hill—Saxon Hall
Sited atop campus adjacent to Jordan Field, Saxon Hall will be a welcome reward for students in their senior year.
A sprawling complex comprised of two dormitory wings, one for boys and one for girls, the facility will feature a central hub of social spaces designed to create a residential experience unique to the senior class.
Four townhome-style units will house faculty and staff, vastly improved accommodation befitting the importance of their roles.
Saxon Hall
Harmsworth Hall
Baglio Sports and Fitness Center
Saxon Hall Amenities and Features
• Single Occupancy Rooms
• Kitchenette and Laundry Facilities
• Co-ed Social Hub
• Break out areas, lounges, gathering spaces
• VIP Views of Jordan Field to the east, spectacular sunsets to the west
Jordan Field
Independent Living
Self-reliance and independence are born from the development of skills and the opportunities to use them. They are also inherently valuable to success in college and beyond.
Unique spaces within Saxon Hall allow for members of the senior class to be more independent while still within the supportive and structured environment of Eagle Hill.
A kitchen exclusively for residents and laundry facilities available for use help cultivate responsibility.
A faculty and staff presence that trends towards adjacent and accessible, as opposed to immediate and constantly present, creates a feeling of ownership and autonomy.
Saxon Hall will provide a forum in which senior class students further progress towards wellrounded and responsible young adults.
Faculty Housing
Saxon Hall won’t only represent an enhanced living experience for the students, but also for the faculty and staff therein. Spacious townhouse style units will provide comfortable housing with improved privacy, all while preserving the benefits of connectivity.
The dorm parents are of critical importance to the mission of Eagle Hill and the success of all students. Fitting then that their housing is truly a benefit, in and of itself. These units will be true homes where faculty can be set up for longterm residency.
“Some of my best memories from Eagle Hill are from living in the dorms. I don’t know how the dorm parents manage all the personalities at once, but they do, and the result is a really fun place to be.
I liked that whether I needed to be productive, or relax, or needed a conversation, they met me where I was and gave me what I needed.”
—Ashley Mintz ‘20 Chestnut Hill, MA
Downstream Benefits
The creation of dedicated housing for the senior class will yield downstream benefits to the balance of the student body. Historically, the tenth-grade year has vacillated between the underclass dorms and Harmsworth Hall. Placement was dictated by programing but often influenced by capacity.
The vacancy created by removing seniors from Harmsworth allows for 10th graders to move in. This not only allows for earlier relative independence for 10th graders, but also preserves the integrity and developmental appropriateness of the south end of campus for 8th and 9th grade and the specific supervision and staff engagement required for that age group.
A Vision Fulfilled
Saxon Hall, as an architectural endeavor, will represent the culmination of our modern campus vision. Fittingly, it will play host to the final year of the Eagle Hill student journey.
As with the other incredible facilities on campus, it won’t be built for the sake of ranking or reputation—it will be built solely for our goal to provide the very best home away from home for our students.
Saxon Hall will be a place they aspire to move into, are proud to be in, and certainly sad to leave.
Rick Macdonald Director of Development
T: 413.477.6000 x1211
E: rmacdonald@eaglehill.school
242 Old Petersham Road Hardwick, MA 01037
