Guilford High School

While fulfilling the role of the traditional school, there is very little traditional about the learning spaces in this 235,000 square-foot facility. The new building includes a 600-seat auditorium, two gymnasiums, science classrooms, art studios, cafeteria, and kitchen. Technical classrooms allow students to gain knowledge in automotive, wood, welding, robotics, and television production. Thoughtful classroom design encourages effective learning, dynamic instruction, active collaboration, and lively interaction between students and teachers.

For our part, Kohler Ronan designed MEP/FP and IT/Security systems in keeping with the plans for the distinctive school building. To this end, our energy modeling team analyzed numerous design options. The final design of this Connecticut High Performance Building included an aggressive energy plan and high-efficiency systems such as a thermally improved envelope, radiant floor heating and cooling, energy recovery, daylighting, condensing boilers,co-generation, and thermal ice storage. Improvements resulted in a $138,000/year reduction in energy costs and simple payback within eleven years. Working with Eversource and Southern Connecticut Gas, incentives of nearly $650,000 were obtained. Finally, part of the facility can serve as an emergency shelter, operating entirely on standby power.

Photo credit: © Robert Benson