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And Robotics, Too: Green construction under way at Summit School
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Published: May 12, 2008
The younger students at Summit School are fascinated by the things that have invaded their campus -- big trucks, interesting tools and huge new buildings -- while the older students are much more interested in what will be going in those buildings.
They are looking forward to the new dining hall, expanded areas for arts and technology, new classroom space and a brand-new athletics center. Summit also will be renovating several buildings and adding tennis courts. The work is expected to be done by September 2009.
"It won't change the heart and soul of Summit, but it will change the potential of Summit," said Sandra Adams, the head of Summit.
Summit School officials are expected to issue $14.7 million in 25-year bonds to pay for the construction. The school's trustees will have a final vote on the issue at the end of the month. The school currently has no debt, Adams said.
Tuition, which ranges from $9,400 to $16,560, depending on the age of the child, will not increase to pay for the building project, said Barbara Long, the school's director of publications.
Instead, school officials have been raising money from families of current and past students, as well as trustees and staff. They have raised more than $8.5 million since the fall.
The enthusiastic response to the capital campaign made school officials realize that they wouldn't have to choose between the projects they wanted to pursue.
"We said, the fundraising is going so well, let's do everything," said Marie Flow Arcuri, the incoming president of the board of trustees, and co-chairwoman of the capital campaign committee. "We hope to raise the money to pay off the bonds in the next three years."
Adams said that the new buildings will be "green,"-- built using environmentally conscious materials. Trees that were cut down on the campus were planed and stored to be used in construction. At least one building will be submitted for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.
The green buildings will enhance the environmental lessons that school officials try to teach the students, Adams said. "Environmental issues have always been important to us," she said.
The new buildings will not lead to a sharp spike in enrollment, Adams said, but the school might grow by 20 to 30 students more than the current enrollment of 591. The school will still have three sections in every grade, Adams said.
Two buildings are already under construction. One will provide new classrooms for the second and third grades. The grades' current classrooms, which were built in 1946, are too small for the technology that is used now, Adams said. The move also will put all of the lower-grades buildings around the same courtyard.
The other building under construction is an athletics center.
The center will have two practice basketball courts and a competition court, a track and several spaces for gymnastics, aerobics and other activities.
It replaces an older gym that was on campus.
School officials will then start work on a dining hall and a building for arts and technology.
The dining hall will be for older students who dine in a typical cafeteria now. The new building will be similar to the newer one that serves younger students. It will have space to prepare more fresh food, and will incorporate environmental lessons about recycling and other topics.
The arts building will include a new theater, a band room and robotics area, among other things.
"We hope these buildings, particularly the Arts and Technology Center, will house programs we can't even imagine," Adams said.
■ Danielle Deaver can be reached at 727-7279 or at ddeaver@wsjournal.com.
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