The Center

On March 7, 2026, Greensboro Day School celebrated the opening of The Center for Student Life and The F.M. Kirby III Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. This 50,000-square-foot landmark at the heart of campus is a place where students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and GDS friends gather and connect. It’s also a space where students move beyond traditional learning and fully engage in the process of designing, creating, testing, iterating, and innovating.

We’d love to show you around! Schedule a visit today.

Designed by Little Architects of Charlotte and built by general contractor Samet Corp., the Center houses a wide range of spaces purpose-built for 21st-century learning. At its core is The W, a 400-seat dining commons that adjoins Harrington Community Commons. Collectively, these spaces serve as a new social hub for the GDS community. 

Surrounding these spaces are dedicated centers for entrepreneurship, design and the arts, engineering, public purpose, and student wellness. In addition to entrepreneurial incubator spaces, the Center also includes an industrial makerspace with dedicated spaces for woodworking and metal work.

The Center is the culmination of the School’s $27 million Be BOLD Campaign, the largest fundraising initiative in GDS history. The campaign was fueled by two transformational gifts: a $6 million contribution from Jackie and Steve Bell, and a $7.8 million gift from the estate of Fred M. Kirby III, whose name now graces the F.M. Kirby III Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.