Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy

Windham, CT







Location: Windham, CT
Architect: ID3A
Size: 85,000 sf
Cost: $34 million
Scope of Services: New Construction
Services: MEP/FP
Technology
Solar
Sustainable Features: 32.5 kW Solar Array
High Performance, Water Reducing Plumbing Fixtures
LED Lighting
Water turbine for storm water
Wind Turbines

This new Interdistrict Cultural K-5 Magnet School is taking full advantage of sustainable design and green development while embracing and teaching cultural diversity. CES provided complete MEP/ FP engineering design services for this new facility with the systems needed to achieve the board’s goal of this project, “take less from the earth and give more to the people.”

The HVAC system is 100% Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) due to the lack of natural gas to the site. This school was required to comply with the State of Connecticut Standard for High Performance Buildings. The energy model indicates that this school will perform better than the 21% goal required by the High Performance Standard.

Other systems include high performance water reducing plumbing fixtures, high performance lighting including LED technology inside and out, a small water turbine that runs off storm water runoff, wind turbines, and photovoltaic panels on the roof. A full fire protection system was also installed.