The 13,000-square-foot space features a six-lane USA Swimming–certified pool with bleachers, locker rooms and a lobby gathering space. The lobby and pool spaces are set behind a tall ribbon of north-facing glass, showcasing the adjacent treetops and hillside, and reinforcing the building’s connection to other athletic facilities on campus. Specifically, it was constructed with pillar supports that allow students to see the view of the Frank J. Bertino Memorial Field from the top of the hill. Shawmut Design and Construction built the facility, working closely with designer PBDW Architects — both of which have offices in New York.

“It was an exhilarating experience for our team to rise to the challenge of building the center on top of a steep, rocky hill,” said Tony Miliote, Shawmut’s vice president, in a statement. “The complex logistics were well worth the effort, resulting in a facility that not only maintains the area’s scenic beauty, but will allow both students and visitors to enjoy a state-of-the-art aquatic center.”

Shawmut carefully selected materials with durability in mind due to the corrosive nature of the pool environment. The space features multiple sustainable elements, including a highly efficient building envelope, reduced energy loads by capturing heat from the pool dehumidification systems, water use reduction, storm water quantity control, use of recycled and regional materials, and increased indoor air quality, according to a statement.

Shawmut is also working on renovations to Riverdale’s Marc A. Zambetti ’80 Athletic Center and recently completed the Lower School’s new Upper Learning Building on the River Campus in August 2016. The new Upper Learning Building replaced the former Perkins Building, with a design that similarly connects students to the outdoors. It allows all third- through fifth-grade classes to learn in one location for greater collaboration.

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After a January vote approving work at both Gallup Hill School and Ledyard Middle School, school board members have added O&G Industries of Torrington, Conn., the state’s largest privately held construction firm, to the project team. O&G will act as construction manager for the $28.6 million expansion and renovation project at Gallup Hill School and the $35.6 million expansion and renovation of Ledyard Middle School.

School officials have been reviewing options for consolidating, closing, expanding or renovating the school facilities for several years. Previous analyses have looked at site conditions, exterior and interior facility conditions, mechanical and electrical needs, code compliance issues and asbestos abatement.

Gallup Hill School, which will remain fully occupied during construction, was built in 1965 and hasn’t undergone any major renovations or additions since it was completed. Construction on the 14.6-acre site will expand the facility from 40,000 square feet to more than 86,000 square feet. The project’s primary focus is on increasing the Pre-K-6 school’s overall capacity. Upon completion, the student body will nearly double from 350 to just less than 700. Once all work is complete, the added capacity will allow for the closure of Ledyard Center School.

Ledyard Middle School, built in 1971, currently serves just seventh- and eighth-grade students. However, construction will expand the facility from 75,000 square feet to 93,000 square feet, allowing the school to add another full grade. Once completed, the renovated-to-new school will serve more than 550 sixth to eighth graders, consolidating all of the district’s sixth graders into a single facility. The school also shares a nearly 40-acre site with both Juliet W. Long School and Gales Ferry School.

Architecture, engineering and interior design collaborative Silver/Petrucelli + Associates of Hamden, Conn., is serving as the project architect. The firm has worked with the district since 2013 on studies, preliminary design recommendations, floor plans and budgets. Construction on both projects is anticipated to begin in January 2017.
 

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