East Coast Green - Session Descriptions

East Coast Green is offering over 30 continuing education sessions focused around individual topics tracks throughout the conference.

Below is a detail of one of the courses. To see full course listing and times go back to Speaker Schedule.

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FR17B3
Friday, September 17, 2010, 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm

Sustainable School Development in the Highlands -
the Mountain Villa Primary School
1.0 HSW/SD LU Hours - Approved
1.0 USGBC CEU Hours - Approved

The Mountain Villa Primary School's philosophy is the use of the physical environment as the focal point for education. The location of this PK-1 school was selected precisely because of the opportunities its site presented. Located within a wing of an historic turn of the century mansion, the project's scale and orientation is tailored specifically to the growth of early learners, yet offers enrichment opportunities to the greater community through its adjacency to Allamuchy State Park.

This unique project - the first school expansion within the Highlands Preservation Area - sets a significant example for the creative use of sensitive lands and existing facilities. Collaboration with the State of New Jersey enabled the acquisition of the property by the taxpayers of Allamuchy Township, and impending adaptive reuse activities at the mansion will enhance its value as a community asset, as it is transformed into an appropriate leased space for specialized higher education use. The distinctive sense of "place" that this iconic historic structure and its surrounds provide will enrich students, their families and the greater community of learners for generations to come.

Attendees will learn how the creative use of existing infrastructure in this project enabled the development of a unique school environment with unique curriculum responsive to the site, including: creative writing on the trails: science curriculum focused on environmental stewardship: and local history lessons based on the mansion's heritage. Furthermore, the session will explore how the project created additional opportunities for grant-funded community recreation and enrichment programs.

Speaker:

Jay Perantoni, AIA, NCARB
Principal,
SSP Architectural Group

Addiitonal Program Information: The Mountain Villa Primary School in Allamuchy Township is exemplary of the State of New Jersey's ability to partner with school districts and the community to develop sensitive, sustainable responses to public space need.

The renovation occurred within an 18,000 s.f. English Gothic Revival edifice, which at the time of project planning was located on 32 acres adjacent to Allamuchy Pond. Sited within the Highlands Preservation Area, the mansion and its surrounds were subject to restrictive land disturbance and impervious coverage requirements.

A successful January 2007 referendum allowed the acquisition of ten acres of the estate and the manor house by the Allamuchy Township School District. In a concurrent transaction, the NJDEP's Green Acres Program acquired the remaining 22 acres for the expansion of Allamuchy Mountain State Park . This progressive move was in direct alignment with the goals of the Highlands Act to preserve our State's waterways.

The renovation reuses the existing structure, with a modest addition that respects the development limitations of its site. Renovated space includes 12 newly formed classrooms and four administrative areas. A 4,000 s.f. two-story multipurpose addition oriented to take advantage of the view to Allamuchy Pond provides physical education, cafeteria and gathering space for students, and general community use space.

Key features of the project include several planning principles:

• Low-Impact Use that Preserves Open Space

  This 'win-win' scenario preserves 22 acres of pristine forest with access to Class I waterways. The Department of Parks and Forestry is utilizing the acreage for an expanded trail system that will allow the public to enjoy the natural environment.

• Historic Preservation Activities
  
  The project has provided a contextual response to building and site development in this environmentally sensitive area, as an essential predecessor activity to historic preservation activities. The mansion portion of the property is currently in the process of attaining Federal historic designation, which will allow for its further sensitive adaptive reuse.
  
• Sustainable Design to Reduce Operating Costs

  Economic benefits transcend project 'first costs.' Energy-efficient features save the District 30% to operate the Mountain Villa over the costs of 'typical' systems design. Systems include a 30 kW solar photovoltaic array; the harvesting of natural daylight in conjunction with fluorescent lighting with occupancy sensors; and insulated, triple-glazed windows to insure the integrity of the indoor temperature.

• Economic Good Sense for the Community's Future
  
  The District and community will realize direct economic benefit from this project. The unoccupied portion of the property is currently in adaptive reuse design, to facilitate a long term lease agreement, adding to the property's provision of a distinctive sense of "place" for the community.