Derry, NH – Eckman Construction recently completed the new “Academy Building” at Pinkerton Academy in Derry. The three-story, 135,000sf building is located on the former site of athletic fields near the center of campus, and will serve as Pinkerton’s new, dedicated freshman academy.
In addition to classrooms, the facility contains science and computer labs, a culinary arts classroom kitchen, and a cafeteria with its own kitchen. The 145-seat theatre-style lecture hall, with fixed raised seating and multi-media presentation systems, will serve multiple academic purposes for the entire school population.
Freshmen will take most or all of their classes in this building, providing an easier transition for their first year of high school.
Pinkerton’s campus IT staff and equipment hub has been relocated to the new building, a process that was planned coordinated with the IT department throughout construction. Additional departments with new homes within this modern facility include the video production and health science technology programs. The building replaces 20 temporary portable classrooms, some of which had been in use for over 40 years. Demolition of the portables was celebrated in July.
Construction began in April 2010, and was completed in July 2011.
The Academy Building incorporates several unique “green” elements. Two of the building’s high visibility roofs are covered with a planted green roof comprised of an interlocking grid of trays containing hundreds of live plants. This roofing increases the roof insulation, reduces building cooling loads, reduces that amount of water run-off that needs to be detained elsewhere on the site, all while protecting and increasing the longevity of the roofing material. The building also incorporates a continuous air/vapor/thermal barrier, high efficiency window glazing, LED lighting, and integrated thermal controls that reduces the overall building energy consumption.
The entrance lobby is a soaring three-story space with multiple views of the exterior campus through expansive windows and open railings that allow the students to congregate and develop their class community and personality. Sunlight streams into these hallways, which feature wood barrel vaulted ceilings. Bump out windows with granite sills accent one interior wall of the atrium—essentially small triangular floor spaces with floor to ceiling glass perched over the lobby. A wide staircase is located in the center of the lobby and will provide a smooth and easy flow of students between classes on all three floors.
The Academy Building was designed by Marinace Architects, PA of New Hampton.