When designing green space, Terradon’s engineers chose plants
that are native to the region of each project so the plants won’t
require irrigation, keeping vegetation healthy and maintaining
habitats for local wildlife. According to Hunt, rain gardens
and bio-swales will collect storm water runoff, hold the water
back, slow down the discharge and help clean the runoff while
also providing an organic filter for the aquatic plants, making
them even healthier.
These environmental measures are among the standards set by
the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, des-
ignation, a green building rating system created by the U. S. Green
Building Council. Although Kanawha County is not seeking full
LEED certification in the construction of the new schools, LEED
standards are a strong influence on plans for them.
Integrated curriculum delivery models
and project-based learning will be a focus
at the new Clendenin Elementary School.
Schools of the Future
The need to rebuild the schools will also allow the facilities
to have long-needed technological updates.
“Modern standards can now be implemented,” says Fox. “We’re
taking schools that were planned 50 years ago and bringing
them to today’s standards at a minimum. Utilizing new tech-
nologies and taking advantage of outdoor resources help make
these schools of the future.”
The new schools are still in the early stages of planning and do
not yet have a timetable for completion. While few details have
been planned on specific classroom technologies, the schools are
projected to have wireless internet access built in rather than
obtained through an outside network. Kanawha County is also
planning on introducing programs for coding into the schools.
All these plans amount to a tremendous sense of pride in
giving students in devastated communities the opportunity
for success they deserve. Public education should not suffer
because of a natural disaster, and the companies and organi-
zations involved in rebuilding these schools are committed to
improving learning in West Virginia.
“These projects are being designed and built using West Virginia
companies, not out-of-state firms,” says Ryan Wheeler, director
of business development at Terradon. “Our staff members are
products of West Virginia schools and colleges and universities.
We are extremely proud of our state, and it feels good to give
back to the communities we all call home.”
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