About The Project Lab
We're on a mission:
To inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators, shaping a future filled with individuals who are true to themselves, their passions, and who possess the skills to make a meaningful impact on the world.
We empower students to thrive in our nonlinear world by nurturing their true passions and cultivating creative problem-solving skills. TPL’s immersive projects encourage students to embrace their unique interests, develop a profound understanding of themselves as learners, and gain the confidence to address real-world challenges with innovative solutions.
At The Project Lab we equip students for a future where creativity, authenticity, and adaptability are the keys to unlocking their full potential.
We believe in:
Purpose-Driven Learning: Learning is not just about acquiring knowledge but also about understanding its significance and applying it to solve real-world problems.
Owning Your Ideas: Giving students the space to , fostering a deep understanding of their interests and passions.
Flexible Frameworks for Problem-Solving: Develop a variety of approaches and strategies to address real challenges and create impactful solutions.
Fueling Innovation: Nurturing creativity and innovation as students explore their interests and apply their knowledge to create positive change.
MEET THE PROJECT LAB FOUNDER
In 1992 Peter Hutton became Head of Beaver Country Day School, at the time a struggling under-enrolled under-financed school, and through creating a laser focused organizational culture built it into a school with the strongest brand of Boston area independent schools, and into one of the most innovative schools in the country. Hutton believes that strong leadership (Leadership is having a point of view) creates a high functioning organizational design that creates a culture passionate about vision, nimble about strategy and always meeting the needs of the customer.
Hutton endeavors to reimagine education in the context of the future of work. He is a strong advocate of embracing new technologies and designing environments to both support and shape creative problem solving. To that end, Hutton has launched many initiatives with the goal of expanding the nature of school: founding partner of NuVu Studio, adapting a Design Thinking organizational mindset, implementing The Coded Curriculum and, most recently opening the “Library of the Future” - a $20M Research and Design Center.
Hutton believes in partnering with leading organizations and has collaborated with the likes of IDEO, Steelcase, and Harvard Graduate School of Education. He also maintains that a shared organizational mindset is essential and developed a 3-part mindset during his tenure at Beaver: Think Both/And, Make Excellent Mistakes, and Launch/Test/Refine. He believes students should be taught to develop essential skills that will make them “future proof” through collaboration, iteration, tech & media literacy, visual communication and empathy.
Hutton has spoken at a wide range of venues and organizations including SXSWedu, Catalant, ATLIS, Boston Society of Architects, The National Association of Independent Schools and New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Since leaving Beaver in 2020 he has been a consultant for Brainly and is now a board member and consultant for Sora Schools - both General Catalyst Partners backed companies. He is very excited to be Founder and CEO of The Project Lab - a platform that will immerse high school students in real world, project-based problem solving and help them build portfolios that will differentiate them in the college admissions process. Launching in 2023!
He has run 5 marathons and biked 14 Pan Mass Challenges (so far) and, alas, is a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan.