Suffolk celebrated the official opening of Tabor Academy's new $6.8 million Center for the Sciences and Mathematics building at a ceremony that included Tabor headmaster Jay Stroud, trustees, faculty, alumni, parents and students. The new center was Suffolk's third building construction project for this private school and repeat client.
The building consists of eight science classrooms that contain lecture and lab space. The center also includes ten math classrooms, a seminar room, lounge, plasma screen televisions and updated safety equipment.
The building met Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ratings in its design, materials and operation - Suffolk's project team partnered closely with Saltonstall Architects to meet these requirements. The building features rooftop panels for heating hot water and generating electricity, employs air energy recovery units to recover energy from exhaust air and has high-efficiency heating equipment. The new building has photovoltaic panels on the roof that are used to supply power for lighting and exit signs. The building also consists of restrooms that save energy and natural resources - solar panels help provide the hot water supply to the restrooms and toilets consist of "smart" flushing valves with two levels of water use. Recycled materials were used in the building's construction, as well. The epoxy terrazzo floors aggregate consists mostly of recycled materials, and new materials made from pre and post consumers were utilized in the structure and finishes.
This replaced the outdated existing science building. Suffolk's project team completed the construction project on a six-month schedule.