First Avenue District School in Newark, New Jersey Earns Green Award of Merit

The First Avenue District School in Newark, New Jersey recently earned an Award of Merit from New York Construction magazine in connection with its "Best of '08" awards program. The elementary and middle school was designed by Paulus, Sokolowski & Sartor ("PS&S") and includes green design features that would qualify it for 31 different LEED credits, though Newark chose not to pursue formal certification (citing cost considerations).

Some of those green features include daylight and occupancy sensors, passive solar design, and efficient, full spectrum lighting. Locally sourced and recycled-content materials were used during construction, while other LEED-standard features include light pollution reduction, water-efficient landscaping, low-VOC paints and sealants, and a construction waste management program.

The school's common areas- including the theater, gym, and cafeteria- are heated and cooled by a 480-foot-deep geothermal system that allowed the design team to decrease the size of the school's boiler and chiller. In addition, when necessary, 8, 8-foot-diameter tanks will make ice during evening, off-peak electricity hours. In turn, the ice will be used to cool the school's common areas. Payback periods for the geothermal and peak shaving systems are 8.5 and 2.2 years, respectively, thanks to various state-level incentive programs.

268 projects from across the New York City metropolitan area entered the competition, whose 36 winners will be recognized at an awards breakfast on December 10 at the Marriot Marquis in Times Square. You'll also be able to check out each project in the December issue of the magazine. A PowerPoint presentation detailing the school's green features is available via the link below (courtesy of PS&S).

• PS&S Earns Award of Merit (Parmus Post)