Ashley McGraw Joins Square One for Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Ashley McGraw Architects proudly joined Square One, a historic leader in early childhood education and family support since 1883, in celebrating the ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 14, 2025, in Springfield, MA, for its new early learning and community resource center—marking a powerful moment of homecoming, resilience, and renewed investment in Springfield’s South End.
The ceremony commemorates the organization’s return to the very site where its former building stood before the devastating 2011 tornado. That disaster not only destroyed the 947 Main Street facility but also intensified the need for high-quality early education and family services in the neighborhood. Today, Square One proudly reclaims and restores that vital community anchor.
The new 24,847 SF building brings together Square One’s early learning, family support, and community-based programming under one roof. Key components include:
Four preschool classrooms with direct access to dedicated outdoor learning spaces
Age-appropriate outdoor play environments designed to support exploration and development
Workforce development programming for youth and families
Trauma-sensitive therapeutic and counseling spaces
Parent education and support programs
Administrative and staff offices
Inside, the building features a double-height lobby filled with natural light, a second-floor gross motor room for indoor movement and play, and a warm, calming interior palette inspired by nature—all of which support a trauma-informed environment for children and families.
