Research + Design Center

The BVR Research + Design Center—which opened in 2017—is a state-of-the-art building located at the center of our campus that provides our students from 6th to 12th grades the resources and support to create, innovate, explore, and build. The space includes two audio and video recording studios; a design workshop; presentation spaces; a materials library filled with an ever-evolving collection of “stuff” (fabrics, resins, malleable metals, wood, etc.), and an entire floor dedicated to research.

All students have access to the Research + Design Center (aka R+D Center), and we see a wide variety of classes using the space and the tools.

Research at Beaver

Our students don’t just absorb content, they create it. It’s not only about gaining knowledge, it’s about using knowledge for understanding. In the R+D Center and throughout Beaver, students have the tools, research, and support to delve deeper into assignments and projects as well as the space to work in teams, one-on-one, or individually build.

Example of the research and library tools available:

OverDrive subscription (ebooks and audiobooks)
Full access to the New York Times and other news sources
50+ research databases covering history, science, and culture
Library books for check-out
R+D Center website

Design at Beaver

Our spaces are filled with the latest industry-standard and professional-grade tools and technologies—all curated with an eye towards safety, flexibility, and precision. This includes two audio and video recording studios; a design workshop; presentation spaces; and a materials library filled with an ever-evolving collection of “stuff” (fabrics, resins, malleable metals, wood, etc.).

Examples of the design tools available:

Two laser cutters
Four 3D printers
CNC router
Jewelry station
Two recording studios
Two vacuformers
Fumigation hood
Prototyping supplies (hot glue guns, duct tape, sticky notes, etc.)
Materials library (where students have access to everything from fabric samples to salvaged stereo equipment)
Software (OnShape and TinkerCAD for 3D modeling; Adobe Suite for design; p5 for coding; Canva Suite for digital products)

Technology at Beaver

What’s most important about technology at Beaver is our mindset around it. We teach technological literacy not as a standalone class, or through specific hardware or software, but as a tool embedded into each class. The use of technology in the classroom supports us in understanding and expressing ideas. It is infused into every part of our curriculum and campus. Being comfortable with technology and its rapidly evolving state means Beaver students have an advantage in their toolkit. It’s a means for them to explore, visualize, and solve problems while giving them the ability to craft something of their own.

Learn more about our mindset around technology

How the R+D Center supports teachers and students:

Teachers collaborate with the R+D Center to more deeply engage, enhance and/or extend learning goals.
Students leverage the R+D Center to better understand complex problems and construct meaningful ideas.