New Sandy Hook Elementary School Opens

Atelier Ten is honored to have been part of the design of the new Sandy Hook Elementary School, which is set to open at the start of the 2016-17 school year.

In collaboration with architect Svigals + Partners, the design team and the local community, Atelier Ten considered a careful balance of diverse factors during the design of the new school. The goal was to create a healthy, safe and engaging environment for returning students and teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary School. Sustainable and creative design strategies that would maximize energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact and enhance human health and experience in the new school were identified, recommended and implemented under the guidance of Atelier Ten.

As the project’s environmental and lighting design consultant, Atelier Ten advised the design team on the appropriate design strategies to ensure that the spaces occupied by the students, teachers and staff are ideal for the learning and teaching atmosphere.

These strategies, which enabled the project to achieve 35.1% energy cost savings, include an optimized building envelope with well-insulated wall and roof construction and high-performance glazing and curtain wall systems. The quantity, characteristics and placement of the glazing has created a balance of natural and electric light conducive for enhancing visual comfort. The building is conditioned by high-efficiency chillers and boilers, perimeter radiation systems, radiant floors in the Pre-K and Kindergarten and offers demand-controlled ventilation for most spaces. The vegetated open space exceeds that of the building footprint, promoting biodiversity and recreation while contributing to the safety of the school. Lighting energy was reduced by 30% below ASHRAE 90.1-2007 through the use of highly efficient lighting, automatic daylight dimming controls in perimeter spaces and vacancy sensors.

The new Sandy Hook Elementary school is designed to be a national model for the “School of the Future” incorporating the most current and advanced thinking towards educational approaches, security and high-performance design. The school is targeted to achieve LEED for Schools Gold certification.

Atelier Ten’s design team includes Associate Directors Larry Jones and Chad Groshart, Senior Lighting Designer Gus Sanchez, and Design Staff Dan Koenig.