The Easton Elementary School, designed by Noelker and Hull Associates, Inc. for Talbot County Public Schools, has recently been awarded LEED Gold Certification. It is the first school in Maryland to be certified LEED Gold under the rigorous standards for LEED Version 4 for Schools.
“The Easton Elementary School project reflects the commitment by Talbot County Public Schools, the Talbot County Council, the design team and the construction management team to achieve the greatest possible benefit to Easton Elementary School’s students and staff in an efficient and healthy educational environment,” said Noelker and Hull’s Robert Asbury, AIA, LEED AP, Principal/Project Architect.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), first developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1998, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and is recognized as an international symbol of excellence. Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points for green building strategies. Based on the number of points achieved, a project earns one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Its current version, LEED Version 4, is the U.S. Green Building Council’s most robust, flexible and transparent rating system. LEED-certified buildings help to make communities more sustainable by promoting design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health.
Easton Elementary School is a 128,766-square-foot facility accommodating over 1,100 students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade and includes approximately 3,000-square-feet of community use space.
The facility incorporates the two school populations formerly on the school’s site—the Dobson School for Pre-K through 1st grade, and the Moton School for grades 2 through 5. The new school was designed to retain the distinction between grade levels with the Dobson and Moton schools moving into the Dobson and Moton Wings of the new building. These wings function as they had before with the wings now better able to share common facilities.
Additionally, specialty classrooms for music are divided by grade level and the cafeteria features two sections for younger and older students, designed to allow for separate circulation paths. Easton also includes an expanded health suite with its own entrance to provide community health services. The school’s Judy Center, with its own entrance, offers education opportunities and support services for children birth through age 5 and their families to increase the number of children entering school ready to learn. The integral Critchlow-Adkins Center provides before and after-school day care and early learning services.
Easton Elementary school achieved LEED Gold certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, efficient construction practices, and indoor environmental quality. Green building design allows the school to operate more efficiently and gives the students, staff and administration inside the building a healthier, more comfortable space to learn and work.
Noelker and Hull has been dedicated to using sustainable design practices for over a decade. In addition to Talbot County Public Schools, the firm has completed LEED certified projects for Penn State University and Gettysburg College.
“We apply sustainable building principles to all of our projects. This creates efficient, cost-effective spaces which are healthier for both the occupants and the environment,” said Stuart Christenson, AIA, President of Noelker and Hull Associates, Inc.
The Easton Elementary School, designed by Noelker and Hull Associates, Inc. for Talbot County Public Schools, has recently been awarded LEED Gold Certification. It is the first school in Maryland to be certified LEED Gold under the rigorous standards for LEED Version 4 for Schools.
“The Easton Elementary School project reflects the commitment by Talbot County Public Schools, the Talbot County Council, the design team and the construction management team to achieve the greatest possible benefit to Easton Elementary School’s students and staff in an efficient and healthy educational environment,” said Noelker and Hull’s Robert Asbury, AIA, LEED AP, Principal/Project Architect.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), first developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1998, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and is recognized as an international symbol of excellence. Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points for green building strategies. Based on the number of points achieved, a project earns one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Its current version, LEED Version 4, is the U.S. Green Building Council’s most robust, flexible and transparent rating system. LEED-certified buildings help to make communities more sustainable by promoting design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health.
Easton Elementary School is a 128,766-square-foot facility accommodating over 1,100 students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade and includes approximately 3,000-square-feet of community use space.
The facility incorporates the two school populations formerly on the school’s site—the Dobson School for Pre-K through 1st grade, and the Moton School for grades 2 through 5. The new school was designed to retain the distinction between grade levels with the Dobson and Moton schools moving into the Dobson and Moton Wings of the new building. These wings function as they had before with the wings now better able to share common facilities.
Additionally, specialty classrooms for music are divided by grade level and the cafeteria features two sections for younger and older students, designed to allow for separate circulation paths. Easton also includes an expanded health suite with its own entrance to provide community health services. The school’s Judy Center, with its own entrance, offers education opportunities and support services for children birth through age 5 and their families to increase the number of children entering school ready to learn. The integral Critchlow-Adkins Center provides before and after-school day care and early learning services.
Easton Elementary school achieved LEED Gold certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, efficient construction practices, and indoor environmental quality. Green building design allows the school to operate more efficiently and gives the students, staff and administration inside the building a healthier, more comfortable space to learn and work.
Noelker and Hull has been dedicated to using sustainable design practices for over a decade. In addition to Talbot County Public Schools, the firm has completed LEED certified projects for Penn State University and Gettysburg College.
“We apply sustainable building principles to all of our projects. This creates efficient, cost-effective spaces which are healthier for both the occupants and the environment,” said Stuart Christenson, AIA, President of Noelker and Hull Associates, Inc.
