Academic Facilities
From our first academic facility, the Andrew Mellon Library built in 1925, to the Paul Mellon Humanities Center, which supports more traditional Harkness-based discussions, to our newer facilities – the Kohler Environmental Center which supports the Environmental Immersion Program, and the Cameron and Edward Lanphier Center for Mathematics and Computer Science which supports our new i.d.Lab curriculum, each of these facilities is designed to be program-driven, student-centric spaces of excellence to support teaching and learning.
Ann & George Colony Hall
Named in honor of Trustee George F. Colony '72, and his wife, Ann, Colony Hall provides an acoustical setting suitable for the spoken word or amplified music, as well as a more reverberant sound for symphonic music. The west side of the auditorium includes a music classroom wing with a Recital Hall seating up to 100 people, providing rehearsal space for Choate's major music ensembles. Surrounding the Recital Hall are additional practice rooms, faculty offices, a percussion studio and a Green Room for performers. The backstage area contains musical instrument lockers and storage for music.
Open stairs in the lobby lead both to the auditorium's balcony and our new dance studio, with changing rooms and an office for the dance program. In addition to the Dance Program, Colony Hall is home to 7 music courses, including Music Literacy and Composition, Music Theory and Harmony, as well as Symphony Orchestra, and music and instrumental ensembles.
Lanphier Center
The Cameron and Edward Lanphier Center for Mathematics and Computer Science, a LEED Gold-Certified facility designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, opened in March 2015. All mathematics classes are held in this state-of-the art building. Designed to support hands-on learning, the facility fosters collaboration and creativity with spaces for students to work in teams. In addition, the building is home to Choate’s first purpose-built i.d.Lab© which serves as a catalyst for our curriculum. The Lanphier Center is home to Choate’s award-winning Robotics Team.
Kohler Environmental Center
The Kohler Environmental Center (KEC), located at 211 East Main Street, is a state-of-the art teaching, research, and residential environmental center. The LEED Platinum-Certified facility, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, is home to the honors and interdisciplinary Environmental Immersion Program (EIP), a year-long residential academic experience, and Choate’s Sustainable Food Project.
Icahn Center for Science
The Carl C. Icahn Center for Science is the second building on campus designed by award-winning architect I. M. Pei. The three-story building includes 22 classrooms and laboratories; a large reference/study area; a conservatory; and the 150-seat Getz Auditorium. The Icahn Center is the home to the signature Science Research Program. In addition, in recent years Choate has had five Semifinalists in the Intel Talent Search, one of whom became a Finalist, and five Semifinalists in the prestigious Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, two of whom were named Regional Finalists.
Paul Mellon Arts Center
The Paul Mellon Arts Center is one of two award-winning buildings on campus designed by architect I. M. Pei. The western side of the building, with its curved glass gallery facing the courtyard, houses a 770-seat theater. In addition, the smaller Chase-Bear Experimental Theater, dubbed the “Black Box,” serves as an underground link between the west and east portions of the building. The eastern portion of the facility provides additional gallery space, fine arts studios, classrooms, music practice rooms, the Recital Hall, and The Katz Family Green Room. In 2015, the School received a $10 million gift to renovate the main stage theater to be named the William T. Little ’49 and Frances A. Little Theater. The Arts Center is home to the signature Arts Concentration Program. It also serves the surrounding community through its Young Artists Saturday and Summer Program, as well as the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra.
Andrew Mellon Library
The Andrew Mellon Library built in 1924 was a gift from U.S. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon in honor of his son Paul Mellon 1925 who later donated a new Library wing in 1962. The library houses 168,000 titles, over 100,000 eBooks, more than 50 academic databases, and numerous private collections. In 2002, the first floor of the Library was renovated.
Paul Mellon Humanities Center
The Paul Mellon Humanities Center houses the English and the History, Philosophy, Religion, and Social Sciences departments. In addition, the Rosenthal Digital Video Studio is located here. It is also the home to the School’s awarding winning debate and economics teams.
Steele Hall
Steele Hall is home to the Language Department, including the Language Media Lab with its 32- station language laboratory. The building was named for George Steele, mathematics and German teacher (1916-56), dean of students, and assistant headmaster. Every year, Choate’s talented linguists compete in the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers (COLT) Poetry Recitation Contest.