Friends, family, and alumni of Cornerspring Montessori School will celebrate December 4 the opening of its new Middle School facility, built to accommodate the school’s Middle School Program. 

Designed by Belfast-based OPAL Architecture and built by a collaboration between Cornerspring and OPAL Build, a sister company to OPAL Architecture, the Middle School building is built to the Passive House-standard for energy efficiency.  It matches the existing Cornerspring facility, which opened in 2017 and was designed by OPAL and built by GO Logic.  The construction of the new school utilized Cross-Laminated Timber and wood fiber insulation, which OPAL’s sister company Timber HP plans to manufacture in Madison, Maine.  

The University of Maine Orono is partnering with Cornerspring and OPAL to provide energy, thermal and moisture monitoring of the structure’s ground-breaking all wood structural and thermal construction system. 

“Working with Cornerspring to be able to demonstrate, on their Belfast Campus, the first-of-its-kind renewable, sustainable, all-wood construction is an incredible opportunity,” said OPAL Architecture’s executive partner Matthew O’Malia, in a news release. “We are also fortunate to be able to collaborate with the University of Maine on monitoring this project, as we will be able to demonstrate together not only the performance benefits of the next generation of carbon-sequestering, high-performance wood construction, but also the latest innovations Maine’s forest products industry has to offer.”

“The Passive House design results in exceptional heating and lighting efficiencies, saving us thousands of dollars each year,” said Susan Beemer, Cornerspring’s Head of School.  “We’re excited to be one of the first commercial building in Maine to use the pre-fabricated Cross-Laminated Timber with the wood fiber insulation pre-installed.  Watching the building shell go up in just two days on site was impressive!  We hope the University of Maine study helps inform expanded use of this green-building technology.”

The purpose-built Middle School facility includes a science lab and flexible spaces and was integrated into the Cornerspring Montessori School Congress Street campus, which is situated on 42 acres of woodlands and offers a wealth of opportunities for nature-based education.  

“We launched our Middle School program two years ago in response to requests from our families, and are delighted with the results,” said Beemer.  “With the opening of this new facility, our middle school now has the space to match its program, which encourages lifelong learning by fostering self-confidence and independence at this crucial developmental stage.”  

Volunteers from the Cornerspring Montessori community, including parents, grandparents, friends of the school, and the Middle School students themselves, contributed hundreds of hours to help with the build.  

“Volunteers tackled everything from installing the siding to painting to cabinet construction,” reported School Board President Geir Gaseidnes.  “The volunteer community spirit epitomizes what a Montessori school is all about, and it was critical to our success in completing the build in cooperation with OPAL.” 

Community leaders are expected to participate in the ribbon cutting and to celebrate Cornerspring Montessori’s role in the greater Belfast and Waldo County community.  

Middle School students pursue studies in science, the humanities, mathematics, Latin, the fine arts, and physical education and health.  Students also participate in a micro-economy project and community service opportunities.  The Middle School program includes a Seminar in which students develop critical thinking, communication, and analytic skills.  The curriculum has been specially designed as a Montessori-driven approach to fulfilling the needs of students preparing to enter high school.

Cornerspring is accepting new Middle School students ages 12 to 14 for the current academic year and for the 2022-2023 program.  Families interested in learning more can call 207-338-5800 or email info@cornerspringmontessori.com.