New Jersey School Opens 27,000 Sq Ft Innovation Center

A New Jersey private school just opened a building that reimagines what learning spaces can be when you design them around curiosity instead of textbooks.

Montclair Kimberley Academy's new Inquiry & Innovation Center spans 27,000 square feet and combines seven advanced science labs, a robotics suite, flexible classrooms, and even a living green roof. The building targets LEED Gold certification, blending environmental responsibility with forward-thinking education design.

What makes this center different isn't just the shiny equipment. For the first time, MKA brought its Academic Support and Counseling Offices into the same building as its science and engineering spaces, recognizing that student well-being and academic exploration go hand in hand.

"This Center captures the essence of the MKA learner," said Nigel Furlonge, Head of School. "It's a place where curiosity leads to discovery, where ethics and empathy guide innovation, and where every student is encouraged to think deeply, act boldly, and imagine what's possible."

The flexible classrooms can adapt to different teaching styles and group sizes, moving away from the rigid rows of desks that have defined schools for generations. Students can shift from individual work to collaborative projects without leaving the room.

The Ripple Effect

The impact extends beyond MKA's current students. Starting in summer 2026, the school will launch STEM+ Explorers Summer Camp for middle schoolers from the wider community, with MKA faculty and Upper School students serving as mentors in robotics, bioethics, and architecture.

Petra Sauer, Director of STEM+ Programming, sees the center as more than just a building. "It gives our students the tools, space, and confidence to ask big questions and find real answers," she said.

The green roof does double duty as both an environmental feature and an outdoor classroom, turning sustainability from an abstract concept into something students can touch and tend. They'll watch ecosystems develop above their heads while learning about climate solutions in the labs below.

Schools across the country are watching how MKA balances high-tech learning with human-centered support, proving you don't have to choose between academic rigor and student wellness.