NMH's new "state of the art" arts center

Image Credit: Robert Benson

Gil, MA Northfield Mount Hermon School's Rhodes Arts Center has achieved LEED Gold certification. The music, drama, dance and visual arts center includes a 250-seat concert hall, a 280-seat main stage theater, a 100-seat drama/dance studio theater, two dance studios, and space for choral and jazz rehearsal, as well as offices, and practice rooms. The visual arts portion contains seven studios for ceramics, painting, drawing, and printmaking, a 2-D graphic design studio, and photography lab. The concert hall and theaters incorporate state-of the-art technology, extending to acoustics, shops, traps, orchestra pit, sprung floors in dance studios, and exhaust systems in the ceramics and photography studios. Signage placed around the building informs students and visitors about the sustainable aspects of the project.

Green Highlights:

Site: In addition to the construction activity pollution prevention prerequisite, points were achieved for site selection, brownfield redevelopment, maximizing open space, three of the four alternative transportation credits as well as light pollution reduction.

Water: High efficiency fixtures were used to conserve water in the Rhodes Arts Center. Fixtures such as dual flush toilets, and waterless urinals contributed to the project achieving over 40 % water use reduction.

Energy: The light fixtures in the classrooms have the capability of turning off one or several lamps within the fixture, allowing the occupants to turn on only the amount of lamps they require. Natural daylight is used to provide the remainder of the lighting requirements. The light fixtures in the Rhodes Arts Center use energy efficient fluorescent or metal halide bulbs which are approximately 75% more efficient than a standard incandescent bulb. Additionally, building occupancy sensors are used to automatically turn on and off the lighting as required.

Materials: The construction team was able to divert over 90% of the construction waste from the local landfill. The construction team source-separated most construction waste materials onsite such as metal, concrete, masonry, gypsum wall board, and carpet cutoffs. Construction materials such as wallboard, acoustic ceiling tile, marmoleum flooring and carpet contain recycled content. Also, the project achieved two points for regional materials by including regionally produced products such as gypsum wall board, brick, slate and millwork.

Indoor Environmental Quality: The Rhodes Arts Center pursued almost all of the credits in the Indoor Environmental Quality category. The credits for outdoor air delivery monitoring and increased ventilation were achieved. Low VOC paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants were chosen, while regionally produced custom millwork contains no-added urea-formaldehyde. Additionally, the project pursued an innovation and design credit for development and implementation of a green housekeeping plan.

Building Profile:

Rating System: LEED New Construction 2.2 Gold

Location: Gil, Massachusetts

Owner: Northfield Mount Hermon

Architect: CBT

Building Type: Performing Arts Center

Building Area: 54,000+ SF