Science and Global Citizenship Center, Watkinson School
Hartford, CT
This Net Zero building is as smart as the students and teachers in it.
– John Bracker, Head of School.
Background and Context
Watkinson School is a co-educational independent school for students grades 6-12. Founded in 1881, the school brings together 250 students from a wide range of academic and socioeconomic backgrounds
Design Response
In order to meet the Owner’s goal for an Energy Neutral building, Watkinson selected JCJ Architecture to team with San Francisco-based Project FROG on design for the school’s "Solarium" Science and Global Citizenship Center program. To support an interdisciplinary and collaborative curricula, the building is organized into three classrooms that are adaptable to lecture, seminars, and lab-style instruction.
The project utilizes an integrated and pre-designed (modular) building platform. The system brought a singular solution for core and shell, with JCJ leading the process of project management and design of the educational interior. With geothermal power, living roof, PV panels and advanced sensors these 3 - 1,280 square foot classroom pods feature 75 percent energy-demand reduction, abundant daylight, superior air quality, climate control technology as well as renewable and recycled materials .
