The STEM wing will give students the opportunity to use cutting edge tools, and help teachers instill valuable skills and knowledge in students.

As construction advances on NDB’s new STEM wing, Head of School Meredith Essalat ‘98 has laid out an ambitious vision for how the academic space will transform student learning.

In an email to The Catalyst, Essalat shared that her priorities are “to establish our first-ever physics lab [and] to build more science classrooms and lab spaces to support our ever-growing STEM curriculum and incredible teaching team.”

She explained that the expansion is meant to strengthen every corner of the STEM program, while opening pathways for experimentation that the school’s current facilities cannot support.

One of the most unique additions will be the Center for Ethics and Technology, which Essalat described as “a space and place that helps students connect their humanity with the technology they use and develop.” It will encourage students to explore essential questions about ethics, innovation, and the moral dimensions of scientific progress.

Another significant change involves relocating the robotics program’s meeting and work spaces to the second floor. The new location is expected to offer better visibility, improved collaboration, and an environment that reflects the importance of applied engineering on campus.

When asked about the current STEM rooms, Essalat stressed that the project is not about abandoning what already works.

The STEM wing will give students the opportunity to use cutting edge tools, and help teachers to instill valuable skills and knowledge in students.