Barnard Environmental Studies Magnet School is the first public school in Connecticut to earn Gold certification in the LEED New Construction Rating System from the U.S. Green Building Council.
"Barnard School and the New Haven school system are to be congratulated for achieving LEED Certification," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO, Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council.
Barnard is a preK-8 interdistrict magnet school with an environmental science niche and received a $43 million transformation through the City's $1.5 billion Citywide School Construction program.
To earn gold certification, the school had to meet performance standards in six areas of human and environmental health, including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality
Barnard racked up a total of 39 points in the six categories to win the designation, and is the second facility in Connecticut to achieve Gold-level certification. Barnard is the only public school in the state so far to earn LEED certification.
The certification adds to the cachet of Barnard, which last year was named a magnet school of distinction by the national organization Magnet Schools of America. The school reopened in 2006 after a complete, $43 million makeover.
Designed by Roberta Washington Architects with construction management by A. Prete Construction, Barnard School offers numerous science and "green" features, including:
* The largest roof mounted solar panel public building array in the State of Connecticut, with 196 solar panels, producing 16% of the school's energy
* a Weather Bug Station
* Two greenhouses
* Student gardens
* A pedestrian bridge that stretches over Route 34 and affords children the chance to study in the attached nature center and in West River Memorial Park
Additional LEED features include:
* 40% more energy efficient than code requires
* $58,174 in estimated annual energy savings
* 228,600 gallons of water saved annual
* A building design that allows for ample daylight
* Recycling materials used throughout the design, from the roof to the floor tile to the acoustical panels
Barnard School is part of the city of New Haven's school construction and renovation program. Gilbane Building Co. is the city's program manager for the 15-year program, which will ultimately result in 46 renovated or new schools in New Haven. In 2003, the mayor's Energy Task Force for the city of New Haven, together with Gilbane, Aramark Education, and the School Construction Program, implemented the High Performance Schools Initiative to make New Haven Schools more energy and resource efficient as well as healthier for its students, teachers and administrators. Gilbane oversees the multi-faceted program to ensure that all schools are being designed to meet a combination LEED and Energy Star standards.