A School with Science Built In

The Mary E. Baker and Manthala George, Jr. Schools complete the goals of Brockton's citywide elementary school construction program, providing education equity throughout the city and increasing each school's capacity to accommodate the city's student population. Although located on different and distinct sites, the two schools each serve 850 PK-6 students and share identical floor plans and educational programs.

The schools' design connects students with their learning space and teaches them about green building and the environment. Bright, playful colors and patterns, unexpected windows between spaces, and exposed duct work actively engage students in their surroundings. A grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's Green Schools Program funded a 40 kW photovoltaic array for the Baker School, a portion of which is embedded in the cafeteria windows for students to see. A rainwater harvesting system for irrigation at the Baker School and a winding path through wetlands to the playing fields at the George School give students tangible examples of their school's sustainability. Both schools feature skylights, daylight dimming systems, and recycled construction materials.