Skip to main content

Rebuilding to heal: Sandy Hook Elementary School

December 14, 2012. A 20-year-old gunman named Adam Lanza invaded the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and fatally shot 20 children, ages six and seven, and six adult staff members. Following that horrific event, the town of Newtown decided to build a new, 87,000-sf PreK-4 school, which required extreme sensitivity by the Building Team that worked hand and hand with the town on every aspect of the building’s planning, design, and construction.

On the recommendation of owner’s rep, STV|DPM, the school’s Public Building and Site Commission assembled the project team before planning began. The architects collaborated with more than 50 participants of the project’s programming committee. The Building Team also worked with teachers and parents to develop workshops to inform young children about the project’s design, engineering, and construction. 

The Building Team went to great lengths to assuage a still-grieving community during the design and construction for this school. That included training sessions for subcontractors to reinforce the sensitive nature of this project. Robert Benson Photography.

To respect the community, the construction process closed off the site to gawkers, limited photography, and accommodated project tours for school staff members, families of survivors, and teachers. Construction manager Consigli hosted two subcontractor events to raise awareness among the trades about the project’s requirements.

The new school’s striking design emphasizes outdoor activities. Footbridges recall the geology of Newtown’s watercourses. The building’s largest central courtyard—overlooked by two small breakout spaces imagined as tree houses—is landscaped with two amphitheater-style classroom spaces for outdoor learning. The building’s light-filled main lobby includes a two-story wall of clear and colored glass and overhead corridor bridge, with nearby artwork evoking nature.

This finished product emphasizes outdoor activities and includes an overhead corridor bridgeRobert Benson Photography.

Building Team – Submitting firm, architect Svigals + Partners Owner Town of Newtown, Conn. Interior architect Lynn Brotman Interior Design Structural engineer Michael Horton Associates MEP BVH Integrated Services CM Consigli Constrution Owner’s representative STV|DPM

General Information – Size 87,160 sf Cost $39.8 million Construction time October 2014 to July 2016 Delivery method CM at risk

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Cooking Outside the Box - Fine Homebuilding

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. Designed by a passionate Dutchman who longed for a more functional kitchen, PITT Cooking’s independent gas burners take kitchen layout to a whole new level. Unlike the fixed grid of burners in a typical cooktop, PITT burners sit in individual holes in a countertop in a custom layout of your choosing (as long as they are at least 3-3/16-in. apart). This lets you match the spacing precisely to the way you cook. Plus you get the striking combination of a professional-grade kitchen with minimalist modern aesthetic. 3 burner sizes: small (2 kW), medium (3 kW), and combined wok/simmer (5 kW) 31 different kits with 1 to 6 burners each Available in aluminum or brass with cast-iron pan supports Burners easily disassemble for cleaning Pricing available on request pittcooking.com PITT Cooking’s wok ring slips right over the 5kW burners to perfectly support round-bottom pots or pans...

The Walk-in Shower Specialists In Los Angeles California

If you wish to look for a walk-in showering system, we're just a call away. We have been the shop to consider if you'd like custom bath and showering systems and we've been a popular choice for more than 12 years. Our designs are elegant and spacious and it could be equipped with popular features that will provide you with a calming spa-like experience every time you hit the shower. You could check out our extensive list of walk-in showers in Los Angeles CA from the best brands like Ella, Sterling and Dreamline and they come in various sizes that will fit any type of bathroom. These brands also provide selections for safety features such as comfortably positioned and easy-to-hold grab-bar, low floor threshold and a high weight supporting seating area. You could enjoy an energizing shower experience with our walk-in shower which can be customized to blend into any theme or background. We are also proud of our installation team because they're friendly and fast. All ...

Right On Hue - Ideas For Incorporating Color In Your Kitchen Remodel - Dover Home Remodelers

Right On Hue. Ideas for incorporating color in your kitchen remodel When it comes to bringing color into the kitchen, many homeowners take an all-or-nothing approach. What I hear most often from customers during the design stage of a kitchen remodel is that their overwhelming fear is committing to a color that will lock them in—and adversely affect resale. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’d like to add color to your kitchen, there are options for creatively incorporating your favorite hues into your remodel without being completely landlocked. Start by identifying your color personality and tolerance. Then add color to your space in a way that suits your taste and stays within your comfort zone. The Minimalist. Clean, simple and classic: These homeowners are drawn to the all-white kitchen trend with quartz or marble countertops, white cabinets and white subway tile. Easy (and non-permanent) ways to add contrasting color in these spaces include: Textiles: Kitchen towels...