The Pennington School is bringing back a piece of its past with the construction of a new front porch at Old Main, reintroducing an architectural feature that once welcomed visitors to the building. Historically, the porch provided a sheltered space where guests could be picked up or dropped off, offering a shaded gathering spot for students and faculty before the days of air conditioning.
The new porch is part of The Pennington School’s campus master plan and the Forever Pennington $50 million comprehensive campaign. Thanks to a generous donor’s contribution, this long-planned restoration became possible, and work began in mid-January with the removal of the existing front stairs. The new porch will span the center third of Old Main’s front façade, offering both a nod to history and a new ceremonial space for important school events, including commencement ceremonies.
“This is just the first phase of our campus landscape design, which will include new pedestrian walkways, new plantings, and a stronger public presence for the School overall,” said Head of School William S. Hawkey, Ph.D. “The campus master plan will also improve sightlines from West Delaware Avenue as people drive through Pennington. We are proud of the improvements we’ve made over the past several years and are excited to continue sharing our beautiful campus with our Pennington neighbors. Hopefully, with some luck and cooperation from Mother Nature, the new porch will be ready in time for the Class of 2025 graduation.”
The project has been met with enthusiasm from the Pennington Borough Historic Preservation Commission, which approved the porch’s design as a thoughtful restoration of the historic structure.
“The Pennington Historic Preservation Commission enthusiastically approved the design for the new front porch at Pennington’s Old Main Building,” said Eric Holtermann, Chair of the Pennington Historic Preservation Commission. “The Pennington School and their architects have done an excellent job of respecting the building’s history while providing an asset that will benefit both the school and the community.”
The school has worked closely with the Preservation Commission on previous projects as well, ensuring that updates honor the history of the institution and its place in the heart of Pennington.
“Along with the restoration of the Wesley Alumni House, formerly the Headmaster’s House, the School has coordinated its efforts with the Preservation Commission to beautifully preserve its historic front entrance and lawn, which serve as a gateway to Pennington,” Holtermann added.
With construction underway, the community will soon see a familiar feature return to Old Main—one that blends history with modern use and continues to connect The Pennington School with the town it calls home.
