George School is getting ready for a major renovation: the expansion of the Walton Performing Arts Center lobby. Construction fencing will go up in late April, with work starting in May 2026 and finishing around May 2027. Although it may have felt sudden, the planning of the project began in January 2024.
Led by Director of the Physical Plant Department Robert Kleimenhagen, who joined George School in June 2022, the project is a collaborative effort with GKO Architects, Castle & Associates, and Warfel Construction.
The renovation project aims to significantly enhance Walton by expanding the lobby, adding art galleries and outdoor patios, increasing classroom areas, improving natural lighting, and creating larger all-gender restrooms. At the conclusion of the project, the academic quad area will be reimagined as the “Walton Atrium,” reflecting its broader purpose as a central campus hub, according to Robert.
Robert described the renovation as a “community-focused project.” By creating a more flexible and welcoming space, the Walton Atrium will be able to host classes, meetings, 3D art displays, dances, and other events.
As he explained, “the goal is to bring people into the heart of the campus,” especially since existing spaces like the MDA Library and conference rooms in the FAC are already heavily used.
He added, “It’s a different option than just using the wood floor at Marshall.”
The project will also change how people move around campus. One major update is reducing car traffic along Meetinghouse Lane near the academic walk. Currently, cars and students often cross paths in that area, which can be frustrating and sometimes unsafe. Kleimenhagen explained that right now, students heading into Meeting for Worship can get blocked by cars, but after the renovation, “you can just walk and not even worry about cars because there’s going to be a different access road.”
Of course, construction won’t come without some inconveniences. The parking lot between the Meeting House and Walton will be closed for the duration of the project, and the main entrance to Walton won’t be accessible. Instead, students and faculty will need to use the side doors. Robert acknowledged that the adjustment might be difficult, especially since the school hasn’t taken on a project this big in so long.
Acknowledging the difficulty of adjusting to construction works, Robert expressed that “I would ask everybody to be patient.”
“We have not had a project this size in over 10 years…so we’re going to be teaching people how to work through this the entire time all through the next school year.”
Even with these challenges, many students are already excited. In the Architecture Club, led by Mira Abu Tahoun ’26, students have been looking at the plans and learning more about the design.
“I am very excited for this new project as I will no longer have to walk all the way to MDA to study. Walton would be a great alternative!” said Tiffany Wang ’27, a club member.
While the construction may take some getting used to, the Walton Atrium project is ultimately about creating a more welcoming and flexible space for the George School community, which is something students can look forward to in the future.
