HMFH Architects has received the 2009 Brick in Architecture Bronze Award in the educational category for its design of the Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill.

Located on a 16-acre private school campus, the 30,000-square-foot arts center is a three-story addition to the school’s main academic building. The addition features a black box theater with flexible seating and theatrical lighting.

The black box theater is clad in a brick-patterned form and is placed at an angle to engage both the bridge entry and traditionally designed classroom wing, the company said.

"Specifying clay brick for the project underscores the school’s commitment to sustainable design and high performance materials," said George Metzger, AIA, president of HMFH Architects. "We wanted to relate to the existing building’s traditional brick exterior, but also to use the traditional material in a new way to express the school’s commitment to creative arts on the campus."

The Brick in Architecture Awards, sponsored by the Brick Industry Association, honors innovative use of clay brick in several categories including commercial, educational and health care facilities. Winning projects highlight clay brick’s performance benefits, aesthetic appeal and ease-of-use.