Bala provided MEP/FP engineering and technology services for this new school building set to support 695 total students. As the single largest energy use building in the Town of Stoneham, the new school is all-electric and is targeting net zero, providing reduced costs for the Town for decades to come.
The school is comprised of two wings, connected by a student plaza and elevated media bridge. The east wing houses administrative offices, a Pre-Kindergarten Program, academic classrooms, gymnasium, cafeteria area and outdoor seating. Meanwhile, the west wing features a state-of-the-art auditorium, media spaces, music and choral suites and dedicated maker spaces.
Instead of relying on fossil-fuel energy sources, air-source heat pumps and approximately 60 geothermal wells help provide heating and cooling to the building. In addition to an all-electric design, the building will yield 47.7% energy savings over base stretch code.
The new school is also targeting net zero. If achieved, the facility will produce as much clean, renewable energy on site as it consumes. Energy performance features include triple glazed windows, electrical plug load management, as well as rooftop and parking canopy-mounted electric PV arrays.
Bala also lead an integrated and holistic technology design for IT infrastructure, security and AV systems for specialty spaces and classroom infrastructure.