By Allie Cohen ’12, Staff Writer

The construction of the new building has proven to be a popular topic of conversation and debate this year. It represents many important changes for Newark Academy.

One of these changes appears in the standards for the construction itself. These standards are higher than those of most building projects, because they meet the conditions of LEED certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design. A building can receive different levels of certification depending on how thoroughly it follows the LEED guidelines in its construction. Some examples of these principles are using recycled materials, using only materials that come from a nearby source, and incorporating more natural light into the building’s design. LEED certification also requires an environmental education component. Each student will have to receive a certain number of hours of learning focused on the environment and sustainability. It is a huge accomplishment for NA to follow this prestigious system because it involves extensive planning, funds, and cooperation, and it demonstrates our school’s commitment to supporting sustainable initiatives.

The Upper School Design Committee, the group that helped organize the construction of the addition, and the administration immediately agreed that the new building should have a minimized impact on the environment. According to Mr. Huber, who was on the Committee, “everyone was talking about using sustainable materials right from the start.” He even said that the groups came to the conclusion that keeping in mind the building’s ecological footprint was “non-negotiable.” The idea of using LEED circulated through conversation throughout the process. The only question facing the administration was whether the certification was worth the considerable expense it would demand. In the end, they decided that having the certification would be a great achievement and honor, so the LEED proposal was approved.

Having LEED certification is not only a triumph for our school’s administration, but it will hopefully send a message to the students as well. Chris Matturi ’12, who was on the Upper School Design Committee, said that they hope LEED will ensure students have a better understanding of environmental sustainability. The conservationist values that the Design Committee and the administration upheld in choosing to use LEED will be passed on to students with the new education requirements. Thus, the certification will have lasting effects in all aspects of school life.

As Newark Academy continues to change and develop, it will be important to consider our effects on the environment. Implementing LEED certification into the upcoming addition is an amazing way to do that. It not only illustrates how conscientious our school currently is, but shows promise for the future.