In fulfilling its campus masterplan vision, Portsmouth Abbey School desired a student center at the head of Raven’s Quad, a recreational field overlooking Narragansett Bay. Conceived as ‘a student porch’ to gaze out onto the world, the 8,000-sf student center reinterprets the iconic architectural language of the original Pietro Belluschi-designed campus while providing sustainable solutions to its siting. A timber framed glass-enclosed commons recalls the exposed wood structures of the historic campus buildings. A pre-patinated copper screen on top references the distinctive copper rooftops of the campus while controlling heat gain and solar glare. Extending beyond the commons is an outdoor terrace and amphitheater. A perforated aluminum pergola covers the terrace allowing diffused sunlight inside as it shades seating outside. The pergola’s broad reach recalls the deep overhangs of the adjacent buildings, allowing the center to sit comfortably with its neighbors. Internally, the center houses a flexible, multi-format commons for casual work and study, presentations, meetings, and school dances. Group study rooms give students a place to work collaboratively, and a grill room provides access to comfort food. The copper screen and pergola that wrap these spaces create dappled sunlight inside resulting in an ephemeral environment of inspiration and delight.