The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Philadelphia has named the new Concord Middle School’s Ellen Garrison Building as a merit award winner for sustainability. The annual awards recognize design excellence of architectural firms and individuals along with their projects. The award was given to Ewing Cole, which along with SMMA, partnered to design the new building. The award also affirms the Concord Middle School Building Committee’s effort to meet the charge it was given at Town Meeting to design an energy efficient, sustainable building consistent with the Town of Concord’s efforts to be net zero.
Co-chairs of the Concord Middle School Building Committee Dawn Guarriello and Pat Nelson stated, “We are thrilled to see Ewing Cole and the project’s design team recognized for their exceptional work on Concord’s new middle school. They internalized the Town’s vision to create state-of-the-art learning facility that is highly sustainable and connects students with the natural surroundings on the site.”
In recognizing the project, AIA Philadelphia’s jury wrote, “On behalf of our jury, we are proud to present the Merit and Sustainability Award to the Ellen Garrison Building at Concord Middle School. This net-zero ready facility exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to environmental responsibility, featuring an all-electric design and a remarkably tight building envelope with an air infiltration rate of just 0.11 CFM/SF, far exceeding typical performance standards. What truly distinguished the project was its deep connection to nature. The building’s orientation and massing invite daylight and views into learning spaces, while outdoor classrooms and landscaped courtyards extend education into the natural environment. The use of natural materials and thoughtful site integration foster a sense of tactile and ecological learning, making this building not only a model of sustainability, but a nurturing and inspiring place for students.”
Concord School Superintendent, Dr. Laurie Hunter, added, “the new building design has met all the goals we set out to achieve. Since the day it opened, it has been making an important contribution to the teaching and learning experience for students, teachers, and staff at the middle school; it is one of the most sustainable public-school buildings in the state, and it was completed under budget and on schedule. This successful outcome is the result of hard work by the Building Committee, the project team, and the close coordination with Town of Concord Departments. Of course, none of this could happen without the support of the residents of Concord so I am extremely grateful for their continued support of the Concord Public Schools, and I’m pleased to be part of the effort that results in a project that the residents can be proud of and reflects their values.”