Dattner Architects to build green elementary school

Plans to build a new elementary/middle school in the Battery Park City area of Lower Manhattan that will add 950 seats to serve pre-kindergarten through the eighth grades, and will also include 100 seats for special education students have been completed. In recent years, the residential population in lower Manhattan has increased dramatically, which has also contributed to sizable growth in student enrollment in the area's schools. In response, the state is providing the last vacant building site in Battery Park City at no cost to the City to begin building the new school. The land will be made available through the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA), which owns the site. To keep pace with the growing population, we must meet the need for schools as more families move into the city. This new facility, part of our $13.1 billion capital plan to reduce classroom overcrowding and to modernize our schools, will also be the first green school building in keeping with our commitment to incorporate energy-saving measures such as increased insulation and the use of natural light. Not only will the students have a state-of-the-art learning facility, but they will also be learning in environmentally-friendly surroundings. Construction of the school will adhere to environmental guidelines that will make the school the first entirely "green" public school in New York City. The 125,000 s/f school and will serve a neighborhood that the New York City Department of Education (DOE ) has identified as having a high need for additional school space. The BPCA is also contributing $3 million to the School Construction Authority for additional green features, such as photovoltaics. Green school improvements reduce operating costs, improve indoor air quality, conserve natural resources, and enhance the learning environment by making schools healthier and more comfortable places to work and learn. The Battery Park School will be built according to Local Law 86 and the New York City Green Schools Rating System. Specifically, the new school will: Reduce energy costs by at least 25% through the use of day lighting in all instructional rooms, energy-efficient lighting controlled by occupancy sensors, increased insulation in the exterior walls, high efficiency condensing boilers, Energy Star-equivalent equipment, carbon-dioxide sensors in large common spaces, and photovoltaics; Enhance indoor air quality with mold-resistant and low volatile organic compound-emitting materials in the construction; Conserve water by using 40% less potable water through the use of high efficiency plumbing fixtures; and recycle 80% of construction waste and use 12% recycled content in construction materials. The school, which will be located at 55 Battery Pl., will be fully air-conditioned and have 40 classrooms, including 10 for special education students; a kitchen and cafeteria; medical suite; auditorium; library; wireless Internet access; art, science, and music rooms; a 5,400 s/f gymnasium, and a 1,500 s/f exercise room with rooftop educational and recreational spaces. Construction is expected to begin in June 2008, and expected to be completed by September 2010. The new school is being designed by Dattner Architects. Michael Bloomberg is mayor of New York, N.Y.