The Intentional Architecture of Avon Old Farms Captured Through a Student’s Lens | Boarding School Blog | About Us | Avon Old Farms

Students in Tiziana Rozzo's digital photography class took on a photojournalism project that tasked them with telling a story through images. Throughout the summer, we’ll be sharing some of those projects beginning today with Cal Moody ’27, who photographed and wrote about the school's famous architecture.

Avon Old Farms isn’t just a group of buildings, it’s a place where everything feels like it was designed with purpose. From the start you can tell the campus wasn't put together randomly. The way everything is laid out, especially the quad, shows a clear sense of the planning and intention of the school. That's where the journey really begins, with a wide view of the quad to capture the overall structure of it. As you look closely you start to notice the details, and the symmetry that connects different parts of campus. 

As you move around more, the focus shifts from the bigger picture to the smaller details like the small engravings of Aspirando et Perseverando, our school motto, on the Dio archway. That is just one of two bass reliefs on the quad dorms. Some people just walk by them, never noticing them. I certainly did before starting this project, but once you actually look at them, they add a lot of personality and character to the school. This makes it clear that these weren't created to just make the building look nice, it was about creating a certain feeling that carries throughout the whole campus. 

The journey then moves into the refectory, which is one of the oldest buildings on campus. This structure really shows the history of Avon Old Farms and how the original architecture has lasted 100 years. It shows how modern day is connected to the past, and says a lot. Being in an original building makes it easier to understand the school in a way.

To contrast that, I also looked at some of the newer buildings, like the student center and the performing arts center. These spaces are more modern, but still fit in with the rest of campus. They keep that same tudor/english style feel, which shows how the school has been able to grow without losing what makes it unique. It doesn't feel like the new buildings are out of place, they feel like a continuation of the original buildings. 

When I interviewed school historian Mr. Art Custer, he pointed out that this was all of Theodate Pope Riddle's plan. She designed the campus with space for expansion, so the school could grow overtime while still staying true to its original style. That idea really connects everything, from the oldest building to the newest. 

Overall, this project shows that Avon Old Farms is way more detailed and intentional than it might seem at first. Every part of campus, whether it's something big like the quad or something small like a carving in the walls, feels very thought through. 

That's what makes this school stand out, everything has a purpose, and it all fits in a way that feels natural.

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