Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School
(Blackstone Valley High School)

Overview

• Location: Upton, MA
• Building type(s): K-12 education
• 30% new construction, 70% renovation of a 1966 building, last renovated in 1980
• 300,000 ft2 (27,900 m2)
• Project scope: 3-story building
• Suburban setting
• Anticipated completion date: September 2005
  There are two parts of this project: new construction and renovation. The new construction broke ground May 16th, 2003 and was occupied by September 2004. This emptied the classrooms that were to be renovated, and the renovation phase was finished for September 2005.
• Rating: Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools --Level: Certified with 29 points

This project combines an 80,000 square foot addition with a renovation of 220,000 square feet of space in the original school. Construction was completed in September 2005. The district expanded and renovated this school in order to replace outdated and aging mechanical and electrical systems, some of which dated to the 1960s.

The project also updated the existing facility and added 14 new classrooms; three new vocational programs (telecommunications, dental assisting and cosmetology); a new administrative area for the principal and centrally located guidance and support services; a new media center; expanded cafeteria space; lockers, rest rooms, and storage space at vocational shops; and a 1400-seat, 10,000 square foot Vocational Training and Competition Center.

The school's main floor measures 225,000 square feet, with upper levels measuring 25,000 and 50,000 square feet.

Environmental Aspects

Notable green features include a 43.4 kW peak PV (photovoltaic) array, which generates more than 58.6 MWh annually; a solar thermal water preheat system, which saves over 3.5 MWh annually; daylighting through the use of 38 light tubes, which saves 470 kWh annually; and efficiency measures including efficient air conditioning equipment and variable speed drives for the air handling unit.

Owner & Occupancy

• Owned by Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Typically occupied by 1,450 people, 40 hours per person per week; and 300 visitors per week, 1 hour per visitor per week

Keywords

Green framework, Simulation, Green specifications, Commissioning, Operations and maintenance, Transportation benefits, Stormwater management, On-site renewable electricity, Daylighting

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