High-Profile Feature
O&G Industries recently conducted its final session of its O&G Builds program at Norton Elementary School in Cheshire, Conn. The program combines technical learning with hands-on experience, designed to give sixth grade students a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship, coordination, and scale required to build their new school. Over the course of the program, 32 students and two teachers explored nearly every aspect of building the school, from design and engineering to electrical systems, masonry, drywall, flooring, HVAC, and site work.
The O&G team, in addition to representatives from the other project partners, were on site throughout the program to give students a hands-on look at the systems that keep their school comfortable, functional, and finished, and a chance to explore the many different roles involved in site work. Each month throughout construction, the students and teachers would join the O&G team and different members of the trade contractors for a presentation with a question and answer session, an onsite walkthrough of the building and a hands on opportunity, set up by the trade contractors, to perform one of the tasks the presenting trade contractor undertakes daily. The students would then head back to the O&G jobsite office for lunch and a conversation of all they experienced that day.
The sustainability-focused Norton Elementary School project is replacing an existing facility in an established residential area. A “woods and trails” theme drove the design of the school, inspired by nearby landmarks including the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, Lock 12 Historic Park, and Roaring Brook Falls. The 96,000sf building focuses around a natural aesthetic, reflected in the stone walls, wood soffits, and timber canopies. On the interior, the main hall is flanked by tree columns on either side and a green acoustic panel ceiling mimicking a forest canopy above. Boulder-shaped solid surface wall protection climbs the stairs and an acoustic panel waterfall connects the two levels through a large floor opening.
“These design elements create a learning environment that reflects Cheshire’s identity while supporting curiosity, growth, and a strong sense of place,” says Laurel Boroughf, AIA, project architect at Tecton Architects.
The project incorporates exposed structural elements throughout the gymnasium, cafeteria, and main hall as a learning tool for students. Damayanti Chaudhuri of Michael Horton Associates says, “Our office worked closely with Tecton during the design phase to develop an efficient structural system that would also serve as an integral architectural feature. Exposed steel framing and wood roof decking were carefully coordinated to satisfy both structural performance requirements and the project’s aesthetic goals. The design intent was to showcase the natural wood decking, providing warmth and character to the interior while reinforcing the building’s colonial-inspired aesthetic throughout these prominent gathering spaces.”
Designing a new school on an existing school site presented some unique challenges in the design process. Nancy Levesque, project engineer at Benesch, commented, “The timing and phasing of construction has had to be coordinated with the school schedule to minimize disruption. This included keeping existing utilities in place, rerouting stormwater around the construction area to continue draining the existing parking areas and the building roof, and keeping power, communications, water and sewer in place until demolition began on the former school.”
At the heart of the building system is the implementation of high efficiency ground source water to water heat pumps. These heat pumps utilize stable ground temperatures to generate hot and chilled water to heat and cool the building, significantly reducing energy consumption and the building’s environmental footprint through the reduction of use of fossil fuels. Conditioned spaces are served by a combination of dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) and active chilled beams accompanied by six-way control valves, an advanced strategy that separates ventilation from space conditioning.
“This integrated approach delivers exceptional thermal comfort, optimal indoor air quality, and a quiet operation, creating an environment that supports learning while maximizing energy efficiency, says Daniella DiZenzo, PE, project engineer and mechanical engineer at Kohler Ronan. “Norton Elementary School demonstrates how innovative engineering can help shape healthier, more efficient educational environments for future generations to come.”
At the final session of O&G Builds at Norton Elementary School, students were given one last hands-on experience and then took a final tour of the school, seeing how close the building is to completion and learning about the finishing touches still underway. Students then celebrated their graduation from O&G Builds with lunch and diplomas recognizing their participation.
“This program has been a huge success and highly praised by the students, school staff, and the Cheshire community. All credit goes to Project Manager Colton McGovern, Superintendent Brian Pracuta, MEP Coordinator James Hendrickson, and Project Engineer Earl Stevens, and of course our trade contractors who were the backbone of this program,” says Ryan Benoit, senior project manager at O&G Industries. “It is my sincere hope that our O&G Builds program has inspired some of the students to pursue a future career in construction.”
