Slate School
North Haven, Conn.
Award of Merit

Owner: Slate School
Lead Design Firm: Patriquin Architects
General Contractor: Gilbane Building Co.
Civil Engineer: Milone & MacBroom
Structural Engineer: Girard and Co.
MEP Engineer: Consulting Engineering Services
Owner’s Representative: Colliers International
Subcontractors: Ralph Camputaro & Son (Concrete and Sitework); Epifano Builders (Rough Wood Framing & Drywall); Sarracco Mechanical (HVAC); C&H Electric; GT Landscape & Excavation

Building this nonprofit elementary school required a collaborative approach to transforming a long-abandoned 25-acre property into a modern-day private school focused on nature-based learning.

After construction began in early 2018, local planning and zoning timelines presented challenges that affected the schedule. But by using compressed deadlines, the team was able to deliver the project on time and on budget and welcome students into their new classrooms by September 2018.

After the independent, co-educational school received approval at the local level, the team deployed an advanced planning and scheduling scheme for attaining a strategic alignment among all project disciplines. This cohesive unit continuously monitored and adjusted for progress with support from trade experts.

The team achieved energy efficiency and reduced building footprints. Using passive house construction performance standards, the team designed a tight, well-insulated building envelope. To provide a barrier to the cold ground, the team installed an isolated earthen slab for each building on campus, decreasing the load on the mechanical electrical and plumbing systems. The school is a chemical-free campus with all building materials following the International Living Future Institute standards. The team also made an effort “to test and ban any materials containing traces of lead or other toxins or heavy metals contained on the institute’s Red List.”

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