Barnard Environmental Magnet School

New Haven, CT

The Barnard Environmental Magnet School was a renovation and addition project to create a school for 660 students.

The architects envisioned this school with the Environment as its theme taking thorough advantage of its natural surroundings. A pedestrian bridge to a neighboring park connects the school to its nature center and offers safe transit across a busy boulevard. The nature center, part of the school, is shared with the Parks Department.

The school's 28 classrooms are wrapped around a courtyard which also serves as a teaching garden.

The building is New Haven's first LEED certified Gold school. Building materials, the HVAC system and the school's roof-top photovoltaic array all advance the school's Green mandate.