New Project - Phillips Exeter Academy
WINTER HOLBEN architecture + design is pleased to announce its involvement in a significant campus project at Phillips Exeter Academy, supporting the transformation of a historic church building into new student dormitory residences.
The project is part of a broader series of campus investments that include major renovations, new student housing, and expanded athletic facilities designed to enhance residential life and strengthen the Academy’s historic campus for future generations. The former church structure—long a recognizable presence along Front Street—will be adaptively reused as student housing, continuing its legacy as a place of gathering while introducing a new residential purpose aligned with the Academy’s evolving needs.
WINTER HOLBEN’s role focuses on architectural and interior design contributions that support the sensitive integration of contemporary student living within a historic structure. The work reflects the firm’s purpose-driven approach to design—balancing preservation, livability, and long-term performance while respecting the architectural character that defines Exeter’s campus and surrounding community.
Adaptive reuse projects of this nature present a unique opportunity to extend the life of historic buildings while meeting modern residential expectations. By reimagining an existing civic structure as housing, the project reinforces the central role of residential experience in academy life, where dormitory living is considered an extension of learning and community engagement.
Construction and planning efforts are ongoing as part of the Academy’s larger campus renewal initiative, and WINTER HOLBEN looks forward to contributing to a project that connects history, sustainability, and student experience through thoughtful design.
You can read more about the project on Seacoast Online here.