Welcome to The Hotchkiss School

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Welcome / Main Building

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to Hotchkiss! We start our tour at the Main Building, the heart of life at Hotchkiss. It conveniently houses most of our academic and meeting spaces under one roof, making it easy to find teachers and connect with friends. Students can walk to classes, auditoriums, the library, Chapel, Student Center, and campus services without leaving the building. The majority of classes are here, with the exceptions of science and photography—a short walk away. To navigate our virtual tour, click on the arrow to walk around. Jump to the next stop by clicking on the "Next" button. Select locations using the list or click directly on the map. Explore locations using the icons."

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Office of Admission & Financial Aid / Harris House

Tour stop audio transcript

When you first come for a visit, you will probably arrive at Harris House—home to our Admission and Financial Aid Office. Built in 1894 as a cottage at the western end of Main Building, it stood for over a century as the headmaster's house. It is connected to the Main Building, next to the College Advising Office and Chapel. Today, Harris House overlooks the gardens, the Hotchkiss Golf Course, Lake Wononscopomuc, and many of our dorms.

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Academic Life

Tour stop audio transcript

Our academic program offers a breadth and depth of study that most high school students would not experience until college. The average class size is 12, ideal for group discussion. First and second-year students go through the Humanities program, an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines history, English, philosophy, religion, and the arts in the study of a specific time period. Older students have flexibility to choose from more than 200 courses. Guided by engaged teachers, students push themselves intellectually and form strong bonds with their classmates — whether they're conducting a science lab, debating global issues, or learning a new language.

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Esther Eastman Music Center

Tour stop audio transcript

Hotchkiss offers an extensive music program that includes the renowned Hotchkiss Orchestra, a jazz ensemble and choir, and individualized instruction. Completed in 2005, the *Esther Eastman* Music Center houses music classrooms and rehearsal spaces, drawing top-notch guest musicians who share the stage with students during performances in the 715-seat *Katherine M. Elfers* Hall. The Esther Eastman Music Center also hosts a number of all-School assemblies during the academic year and a popular summer concert series that is free to the public.

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The Arts

Tour stop audio transcript

Whether you're a serious artist or want to hone a new skill, Hotchkiss offers amazing work spaces and access to world-class facilities. Art studios for visual arts, ceramics, architecture, and art history are located in the Cullman Art Center. Theatre students learn the crafts of playwriting, acting, directing, and set design, holding performances throughout the year in Walker Auditorium and the Black Box Theatre. Dance students rehearse in the studio and perform twice a year in Walker. Student art is on display throughout Main Building as well as in the Tremaine Art Gallery, which also features exhibits from guest artists who work with students throughout the year.

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Community Life

Tour stop audio transcript

Students come to Hotchkiss from around the world and all over the country, representing a range of backgrounds and interests. They come ready to develop their self-confidence and independence in a supportive, caring community. Instructors, coaches, and dorm faculty guide students in their academic, social, and emotional growth. Students attend classes during the day and participate in athletics and team activities in the afternoon. There are study hours in the evening as well as time for clubs, socializing, and dorm activities. Hotchkiss offers more than 80 student groups — including theatre, a cappella and music ensembles, student publications, community service and affinity groups, and the widely celebrated speech and debate team.

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Edsel Ford Memorial Library

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The Edsel Ford Memorial Libraryoffers an impressive array of research databases and scholarly tools, as well as comfortable spaces for individual and group study. You can relax in an armchair or quiet carrel to do homework, or collaborate with others on projects using smart boards and media viewing equipment. Check out a robotics kit and other technologies at your disposal, as well as board games. The library also houses the School's Archives and Special Collections, providing access to a wide range of historical artifacts and artwork. Our librarians work with designated academic departments to help students take full advantage of the library's resources.

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A. Whitney Griswold Science Building

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The Griswold Science Building is dedicated to experimentation and discovery. It features 13 hands-on laboratory classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art tools, such as DNA sequencing tools and scanning electron microscopes. Additionally, it houses the Class of 2017 Engineering, Fabrication, and Exploration Lab, commonly known as the EFX Lab. This is a space for collaborative design, technology, and innovation, housing the Leung Prototyping Studio. The science department offers courses in biology, chemistry, environmental science, physics, robotics, and astronomy, for which the Hotchkiss Observatory is a remarkable resource. Griswold also features black-and-white and color darkrooms, a video editing room, and two screening classrooms for photography and film students.

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Residential Life

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At Hotchkiss, you'll live with people from around the world and form deep, lasting friendships. Each of our 13 dormitories is its own small community, supervised by resident faculty members and trained student proctors. Most younger students study in their rooms at night, while older students have more freedom on campus. Dorm activities range from evening snacks, like pizza and s'mores, to common room gatherings and discussions.

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Forrest E. Mars Jr. Athletic Center

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Built in 2002, the 212,000-square-foot Mars Athletic Center, also known as the MAC, is home to most of our indoor practice and game facilities. It includes a 4,000-square-foot field house and two-lane indoor track; the 10-lane *Hixon* Pool; two ice hockey rinks; eight international-size squash courts; the Ford Indoor Tennis Courts; a fitness center with a number of aerobic and weight machines; and well-equipped training, wrestling, and locker rooms. Our sports medicine staff is always available during practices, games, and fitness center hours.

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Athletic Fields and Outdoor Facilities

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Our 827-acre campus includes multiple athletic fields, including two synthetic turf fields, for field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and ultimate frisbee; Baker Complex, home of our track and field teams and the Hotchkiss Football Stadium; The Hotchkiss Golf Course, voted one of the best nine-hole courses in America; 15 outdoor tennis courts; *Hoyt* Baseball field; The Boat House, located on Lake *Wononscopomuc*, home to our sailing team; The *Cullman Paddle Tennis Courts*; The *Malkin* Climbing Walls; and The *Larsen Perimeter Trail*, a seven-mile loop for hiking, running, and walking.

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Natural Environment

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One of Hotchkiss's most distinguishing features is its beautiful campus and the surrounding landscape. The School sits on 827 acres of woods, fields, and farmland in the heart of the scenic *Berkshire-Taconic* region — a place the Nature Conservancy calls "one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the Northeast." Enjoy spectacular fall foliage. Hike seven miles of trails. Swim or paddleboard on *Lake Wononscopomuc*, Connecticut's deepest freshwater lake — or enjoy the stars in our night sky. An example of our commitment to environmental stewardship is our Biomass Facility, which has won awards for sustainability and design and supplies 95 percent of the energy used for heat and hot water on campus.

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Fairfield Farm

Tour stop audio transcript

"Located a mile from campus, our 287-acre *Fairfield Farm* is a unique resource for students to learn about our natural surroundings—whether they're painting in an outdoor art class, collecting soil samples for a science lab, or harvesting produce with the farm's Ecosystems and Adventure Team, a co-curricular activity that gives students hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture. The Farm supplies nearly a quarter of the produce and a substantial amount of livestock used in the Dining Hall throughout the year. Special events, such as the senior dance and proctor retreats, are also held here. Many students have fond memories of watching the sun set or stargazing on warm evenings. "

The Local Region

Tour stop audio transcript

When you visit Hotchkiss, be sure to explore Northwest Connecticut and the surrounding towns. Hotchkiss's founder, *Maria Hotchkiss*, grew up in historic *Salisbury*, Connecticut, which was established in 1741. The town of Salisbury includes the village of Lakeville. We are minutes away from the towns of Sharon, Connecticut, and Millerton, New York. On weekends, buses transport students to and from Millerton, where they can get coffee, catch a movie, or browse the shops. We're a 30-45 minute drive away from *Litchfield* and *Kent*, Connecticut; *Millbrook* and *Rhinebeck*, New York; and *Great Barrington* and *Sheffield*, Massachusetts.

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Welcome to The Hotchkiss School

Welcome / Main Building

Tour stop audio transcript

﻿Office of Admission & Financial Aid / Harris House

Tour stop audio transcript

Academic Life

Tour stop audio transcript

Esther Eastman Music Center

Tour stop audio transcript

The Arts

Tour stop audio transcript

Community Life

Tour stop audio transcript

Edsel Ford Memorial Library

Tour stop audio transcript

A. Whitney Griswold Science Building

Tour stop audio transcript

Residential Life

Tour stop audio transcript

Forrest E. Mars Jr. Athletic Center

Tour stop audio transcript

Athletic Fields and Outdoor Facilities

Tour stop audio transcript

Natural Environment

Tour stop audio transcript

Fairfield Farm

Tour stop audio transcript

The Local Region

Tour stop audio transcript

Office of Admission & Financial Aid / Harris House