Gov. Malloy on hand as KO celebrates building's LEED Gold certification
Channel: Kingswood Oxford School
Date: 22/09/2011

Kingswood Oxford School welcomed Gov. Dannel Malloy at a ceremony Wednesday, Sept. 21 to recognize the awarding of LEED v2.0 Gold certification for KO's Chase · Tallwood Science Math Technology Center.
 
During the ceremony, Malloy announced a special proclamation detailing the certification. "It's a great honor to be with you as you celebrate this wonderful accomplishment," Malloy said.
 
The governor was joined by other area leaders, including West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka, state Sen. Beth Bye and Connecticut Science Center President and CEO Matt Fleury.
 
Arnold Chase, a major donor to the building and the parent of KO alumni, also attended the ceremony, as did other donors, KO graduates and members of the School community.
 
Plans for the 27,000-square-foot center aimed for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, providing an independent third-party verification that the project is environmentally responsible. The LEED rating system is a nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
 
The process of obtaining LEED certification involves earning points based on various elements of environmentally sound construction. Among those elements in the Chase · Tallwood Science Math Technology Center are its white membrane roof with high reflectivity, individual controls for temperature adjustments, operable windows for natural ventilation, and the use of natural lighting and occupancy sensors.
 
KO Head of School Dennis Bisgaard said that he was pleased that the School is one of just a few schools in the state to have a building attain LEED Gold status. "Going into the design and building process of the Chase · Tallwood Science Math Technology Center, KO's board and I were committed to creating an energy efficient building, taking KO's role in global sustainability to heart," he said. "Now being one of very few organizations in the state of Connecticut to receive the LEED Gold certification makes me beyond proud."
 
The $13 million three-level building, designed by famed architect Tai Soo Kim, opened in September 2009, coinciding with the start of the School's centennial celebration.
 
The facility offers state-of-the-art facilities and research labs. There's wireless Internet throughout the center, and every classroom is equipped with a SMART Board. Classes also may make use of the 40 netbooks that can "travel" among rooms on four carts, essentially allowing every classroom to become a computer lab. The building also houses a greenhouse, a saltwater aquarium and two classrooms equipped for video conferencing.
 
The center also features two terraces, six common spaces for student gatherings and two faculty suites with a mixture of science and math teachers to promote further collaboration.