N E W S R E L E A S E
CONTACTS:
Chartwell School
Douglas Atkins, Executive Director
831.394-3468
Marli Melton, Advancement Director
mmelton@chartwell.org
831.394.3468
October 6, 2006.
GREEN CAMPUS OPENS AT CHARTWELL
Seaside CA. Chartwell School will celebrate the opening of its new, green high performance campus on Saturday, October 7th. More than 300 students, parents, alumni and friends are expected to gather for a ribbon-cutting, family activities, bike rides, tours of the innovative new facilities, and a barbecue donated and prepared by the local Knights of Columbus chapters in honor of the occasion.
Richard Flood, Board member of California High Performance Schools, will recognize Chartwell School as one of only 18 CHPS certified High Performance Schools in California. Chartwell is also designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is one of the greenest schools in the nation.
Since 1983, Chartwell School has educated students with a wide range of visual and auditory language-based learning challenges, including dyslexia, in a way that provides the learning skills, confidence and creativity to return successfully to mainstream education. It is an independent, non-sectarian school and is the only school with this educational specialty serving the Central Coast region. The new campus has allowed enrollment to grow to 121 boys and girls, ages 7-14. The School has also steadily expanded its financial aid, and awarded more than $400,000 in tuition assistance this year.
Since learning difficulties affect as many as one in every five children, Chartwell also offers Outreach Programs to help other schools and organizations in the wider community. It tries to let others know that kids who struggle academically can succeed with well structured, research-based teaching, because “Not all great minds think alike.”
“In planning and building the new $13.7 million campus, Chartwell’s highest priorities were student learning and health,” stated Douglas Atkins, Executive Director. The campus features ample, indirect natural daylighting, high indoor air quality, improved acoustics, abundant use of technology, and flexible indoor and outdoor spaces for multi-sensory learning. The school’s 25 teachers will incorporate the buildings in science and math lessons.
Additional green elements include a 30 kw solar photovoltaic system covering the roof, a cistern, drought resistant gardens and landscaping, water-conserving fixtures, construction using recycled or sustainably-produced wood and other low VOC materials, “green” concrete, and building methods that permit re-use of building components as the School’s needs change over time. Over the course of a year, Chartwell’s net electricity use is expected to be zero, and its buildings will use 60-70% less water than conventional buildings.
The almost-finished Phase I includes the large, multi-use McMahan Hall, a large classroom building, a full size sports and fitness field, basketball and other outdoor play areas, school gardens and courtyards. Future phases will include an additional classroom building and library/multi-media center.
EHDD Architecture of San Francisco, who also designed the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Monterey Peninsula College Library, designed the new campus. It is constructed by Ausonio, Inc. Financing is provided by Rabobank.
Except for a $29,000 green design grant from the U.S. EPA, the campus had been built without government funding. The generous support of individuals, foundations, and local businesses has funded the project. “We still welcome additional donations,” said Marli Melton, Director of Institutional Advancement. “The Kresge Foundation of Troy, MI has offered a challenge grant to Chartwell because of its work with students with specific language-based learning differences and its green design. If Chartwell can raise sufficient additional donations from the community, the Kresge Foundation will award $750,000 to help wrap up the funding.”
For more information about Chartwell School’s educational and outreach programs and new campus, please contact Nora Lee, Head of School or Douglas Atkins, Executive Director. Other relevant websites:
www.chps.net and
www.usgbc.org.
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