Common Ground High School is an environmental charter school that combines urban agriculture and sustainable land-management practices into their core curriculum. As part of their long-range 20-acre site development strategy, Newfield was hired to construct a new 14,000 square foot classroom building that includes a large multi-purpose space with a half basketball court and performance area, two science classrooms, an art classroom, student collaborative area and administrative offices.

The building was designed to meet the CT High Performance Building Standards and achieve LEED Gold status. Sustainable features include a geothermal heat exchange system, natural day lighting of all public program spaces, high efficiency LED lighting, operable windows, increased insulation in walls to reduce thermal transmission, the use of sustainable materials throughout the building, including a state-of-the-art engineered wood structure, as well as prepping the roof for future photovoltaic arrays.

Site improvements include driveway and parking upgrades as well as storm water management improvements, which include detention ponds, rain gardens and natural swales for on-site storm water recharge and infiltration.

Subsequent to the new building, Newfield Construction recently completed the renovate-as-new status to the existing building on campus. The renovation included new bathrooms, ADA upgrades, reconfigured classroom spaces, as well as new lighting and finishes throughout.

To complete their site development strategy, two exterior ADA bathrooms were installed for summer youth programs.