The celebration was built around the students. The 4th and 5th grade band performed as the ribbon was cut, and families spent the rest of the morning exploring the new classrooms and playgrounds through a scavenger hunt that sent them into every corner of the building and grounds. The day continued with the boys' soccer teams taking on Newark Charter and the annual Home & School Back-to-School Picnic, bringing the full school community together across campus.

Designed for how younger students learn

Lower school students learn through movement, play, exploration, and connection with one another. WRT worked with Wilmington Friends to shape spaces that respond to those needs, treating classrooms, play areas, and the transitions between them as parts of a single learning environment. The result is a Lower School where students can move easily between focused work, collaboration, and time outdoors, and where the building and its grounds support the school's approach to education rather than working around it.

Grounded in a shared vision

As one of the oldest schools in the region, founded in 1748, Wilmington Friends brings a long tradition of Quaker values to its work with students, including community, simplicity, and respect for each individual. The new Lower School was shaped with those values in mind, creating spaces that are welcoming, purposeful, and scaled for the youngest members of the community.

Looking ahead

At WRT, we believe learning happens everywhere. Environments that invite curiosity and connection help young students build the confidence and habits that carry them through the rest of their education. We are grateful to Wilmington Friends School for the partnership, and we congratulate the entire community on opening a space that will serve its students for generations.