Tobin Montessori and Darby Vassall Upper Schools

The Tobin Montessori and Darby Vassall Upper Schools campus is envisioned as a living landscape that supports learning, play, and community life. Framed as “a school within a park,” the design reshapes the site into a connected sequence of outdoor spaces that extend education beyond the classroom and into the rhythms of nature. Rain gardens, wetlands, and native plantings are woven into the grounds, working quietly to manage stormwater while also shaping places for exploration and hands-on learning. Paths and garden spaces guide movement through the site, encouraging curiosity, independence, and everyday social exchange in ways that reflect Montessori principles. Beyond the school day, the landscape opens itself to the neighborhood, strengthening connections to surrounding streets and shared open spaces. Across the site, ecological planting and resilient water systems support long-term sustainability, creating a landscape that is both environmentally responsive and central to daily experience.