A state-of-the-art dormitory on the Williston Northampton School campus on October 12 was named the John Hazen White House, in honor of Board of Trustees Chair John Hazen White Jr., a member of the class of 1976, and a tireless advocate of the school.
The residence hall houses 40 ninth- and tenth-grade boys, and is flanked by faculty housing for four families. Construction was completed at the end of the summer, and students moved in at the start of school this fall.
John Hazen White House was designed by the Boston-based Flansburgh Architects, which also designed the adjacent 194 Main Street dormitory in 2008. The two dormitories share a similar style of architecture and construction, emphasizing open common spaces for studying and social gatherings. The building has environmentally responsible features: Geothermal wells heat and cool the building, eliminating the need for fossil fuels for heating and air conditioning; solar panels on the roof heat hot water. The dorm fronts a Residential Quad, centralizing where students and faculty live on campus.
The second phase of Williston’s residential initiative will begin in 2019, and will include a second new dormitory, additional parking, and completion of the residential green.
John Hazen White Jr. is the owner, chairman, and CEO of Cranston, Rhode Island-based Taco Comfort Solutions, a heating and cooling equipment manufacturer that sells its products around the world. A business leader in Rhode Island, he also leads his family’s foundation, which supports arts, education, and healthcare nonprofits. White’s strong support of the Williston Northampton School has been unwavering over the years.
“John Hazen White House not only honors John’s dedication to Williston Northampton School,” said Head of School Robert W. Hill III, “it creates on campus an environment that serves Williston students—and will continue to serve them for generations.”