Celebrating the End of a Remarkable Anniversary

Westminster put an exclamation point on a yearlong celebration of its 125th anniversary Sept. 28 with an event-filled day that included an address to the campus community by New York Times columnist David Brooks, a dedication ceremony and an evening gala celebration.
 

David Brooks kicked off the day by speaking to students, faculty and staff about his career and the life lessons he has learned along the way. He encouraged students to find their passion and to pursue it.
 

His presentation was followed by a dedication ceremony for two new student and faculty residences and the expanded main lawn area of the campus. The speakers included Headmaster Bill Philip, Sixth Former Maxine Smith and Graham Gund ’59, president of Gund Partnership, an award-winning architecture firm in Cambridge, Mass., who designed the new residence halls.
 

The two 31,405-square-foot residences, one for boys named Squibb House and one for girls named Gund House, each have 49 student rooms — 13 single and 18 double rooms — and four faculty apartments. They each have a grand central staircase and two wings. Student bedrooms, which are singles or doubles, are clustered around a shared common room with an adjacent pantry. And because close integration of students and faculty is a key component of residential life at Westminster, faculty residences are located on each wing and have studies that open into the student lounges. The new residences are located on an expanded and reshaped main lawn of the campus named Baxter Lawn.
 

Once again, Westminster is on the vanguard of integrating sustainable features into new construction with the use of Energy Star equipment and geothermal heating and cooling in the new facilities.
 

Construction began on the project in March 2012, following the surprise announcement of a $10 million anonymous gift to the school, the second largest in the school’s history, and additional generous support provided by alumni, parents and friends of the school.
 

“At this morning’s dedication, we celebrate three legendary Westminster names: Baxter, Squibb and Gund,” said Headmaster Philip. “Henceforth the lawn we are gathered on, this central campus space surrounded by our student and faculty residences, will be called Baxter Lawn. The rock naming this space, located at the turn in the roadway, honors Charles “Wing” Baxter Jr. ’37, P’79, a Westminster trustee from 1952 to 1976 whose benefaction through the Andrews Foundation continues to enrich the lives of faculty and students.”
 

He continued, “Squibb House honors a Westminster School legend. Some of his students are with us today. S. Harris Squibb, and his wife, Peggy, inspired so many Westminster students during Squibby’s tenure on our faculty extending from 1948 until 1980.
 

“Gund House honors our campus master planner, Graham Gund ’59. …The genius, and I use he word genius intentionally, of Graham Gund’s vision for our campus master plan is to reveal the natural elegance of our campus. His vision has transformed our campus setting.”
 
In his remarks, Graham Gund spoke about how recent building projects have presented opportunities to strengthen the architectural identity of the campus. “It has been a very gratifying experience to have played a part in helping to shape the campus over the last 25 years,” he said. “These new dorms and faculty houses are the next major step in more clearly defining what the Westminster campus is. Its unique character is now stronger than ever.   When you arrive at the top of the hill, you know you are in a special place.”
 

Maxine spoke about being among the first students to live in Gund House. “I think we are blessed with these new dorms,” she said. “On behalf of all the Westminster students and faculty, both present and future, a big thank you to everyone who made these fantastic new dorms possible!”
 

The day ended with a gala dinner celebration held under two festive tents on Commencement Lawn. “I welcome you to this remarkable milestone in Westminster School’s history: the gala celebration of its 125^th anniversary,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees Tread Mink. “It is an evening where alumni, faculty, parents, staff and even students — who are out on Baxter Lawn enjoying their own festivities — have come together as a community to mark the closing of a fantastic yearlong anniversary celebration with the theme “Leading with Grit and Grace.”
 

During the evening’s activities, Trustee Moy Ogilvie Johnson ’86 was awarded the Alan F. Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award for her service to Westminster, David Brooks delivered a keynote address and a fireworks display lit up the sky over the campus.
 

“We have enjoyed an absolutely spectacular anniversary year, capped by this very special gala evening,” said Headmaster Philip in closing. “During our 125th celebration, Westminster School has not hidden its light under a bushel, but instead shined it far and wide. What an exciting moment for this school to which so many of us have dedicated our lives.”