Aquaculture School, New Haven, Connecticut
Built on the Long Island Sound in New Haven CT, the Aquaculture School is a 350 student specialty public High School with a course program centered around oceanographic studies. The design accommodates classes in sea farming, boat building, hydroponics and other occupations related to the ocean. The main building is constructed on the foundation of an abandoned water treatment plant to reduce costs. Three adjacent wood framed buildings house the balance of the academic departments, along with ‘dry’ specialty courses in subjects including charting and GPS.
The school’s boats are docked adjacent to the school buildings to allow easy student access to the waterfront. Numerous designs were studied to reduce costs and maintain control of the construction budget while preserving the integrity of the school’s program. A construction manager was involved throughout the design process to aid in tracking and controlling costs. The project was done in a joint venture with The Ives Group headed by Joel Ives, AIA and Dewberry Engineers and won high honors from the New York Construction News as one of the best schools in the region.
