VISTA: Transforming Science Education at Pomfret School

Pomfret School’s Venue for Innovation, Science, Technology and Academics (VISTA) is a three-story educational facility in Pomfret, Connecticut, that combines cutting-edge architectural design with the historic character appropriate for a prestigious school founded in 1894. Situated in the school’s main quad at the heart of Pomfret’s 500-acre campus, the building is home to advanced laboratories, breakout areas and collaborative learning spaces. Standing as a beacon of innovation, the school building helps enhance the delivery of science and technology instruction to students.

VISTA features a variety of Kawneer’s high-performing architectural aluminum systems, including the 1600 Wall System^®1 Curtain Wall and 500T Insulpour^® Thermal Entrances in Wide Stile. Featuring Kawneer’s patented IsoPour™ technology, the thermal entrances were specified to help provide superior thermal performance while accommodating high volumes of traffic.

VISTA’s sustainable design and modern architectural features highlight Pomfret School’s commitment to provide inspiring educational spaces that promote academic excellence and innovation.

ARCHITECT: Annum Architects, Boston, MA
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Shawmut Design and Construction, Boston, MA
GLAZING CONTRACTOR: Chandler Architectural Products, Inc., West Springfield, MA

Photography: Images courtesy of Pomfret School (Jim Gipe, Pivot Media)

WHERE INNOVATION MEETS TRADITION

Replacing the previous Ambrose Monell III Science Building, VISTA was angled southwards to offer expansive views of the Pomfret School’s playing fields and western valley. The building’s strategic placement not only enhances the building’s aesthetic appeal but also connects the educational facility to its natural surroundings.

One of the most crucial requirements of the building’s design was to optimize energy efficiency, comfort and overall performance, along with ensuring the building’s contemporary architecture complemented the character of the existing Pomfret School buildings and the surrounding Pomfret Street Historic District.

Kawneer’s 1600 Wall System^®1 Curtain Wall and 500T Insulpour^® Thermal Entrances were specified to provide a variety of long-term benefits, including energy efficiency and high-thermal performance.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN IN ACTION

As sustainability was a key factor in the design and construction of VISTA, the team at Annum Architects chose to incorporate Kawneer solutions to support these initiatives.

Kawneer’s 1600 Wall System^®1 Curtain Wall was specified to help support the educational facility’s sustainability and innovative design goals by enhancing energy efficiency and occupant comfort. This system plays a vital role in helping achieve the building's overall performance requirements.

The 500T Insulpour^® Thermal Entrances support VISTA’s commitment to sustainability and maintaining a low carbon footprint, helping Pomfret School achieve environmental objectives and green building certifications. The integration of Kawneer’s high-performing thermal entrances ensures VISTA meets or exceeds current energy codes and standards. This compliance not only futureproofs the building but also demonstrates Pomfret School’s dedication to adopting best practices in building design.

Kawneer’s 1600 Wall System^®1 Curtain Wall and 500T Insulpour^® Thermal Entrances help contribute to the building's overall energy efficiency by reducing the need for heating and cooling, leading to lower energy consumption and minimized operational costs. The systems also support Pomfret School in meeting their sustainability goals while helping advance the comfort of students, staff and visitors, creating a learning environment that is conducive for learning and collaboration.

Through adopting best practices in architectural design while selecting high-performing solutions, VISTA stands as a visually striking academic facility that exceeds the needs of students and teachers, allowing a sustainable space for learning and growth for generations to come.

LEADING THE WAY IN NATURAL LIGHT AND AESTHETICS

The sleek design of Kawneer’s 1600 Wall System^®1 Curtain Wall enhances the visual appeal of VISTA, blending contemporary architecture with the historic character of Pomfret School.

The centerpiece of VISTA is an airy space called the ‘Hamilton Hub’, with natural light flooding through the two-story curtain wall. The large glass panels provide expansive views of the surrounding landscape, creating a strong connection between the indoor and outdoor environments.

With a 2-1/2” (63.5mm) sightline, the 1600 Wall System^®1 Curtain Wall system maximizes the use of natural light, helping to optimize the comfort of the indoor environment for students and faculty. This solution also supports the building’s energy efficiency by reducing the reliance on artificial lighting.

MAKING AN ENTRANCE IN EDUCATION

VISTA incorporates Kawneer’s high-performing 500T Insulpour^® Thermal Entrances to enhance the building's energy efficiency, occupant comfort and overall performance.

The use of durable and thermally efficient materials, such as aluminum with thermal breaks, ensures that these entrances are both long-lasting and effective in reducing energy consumption.

Kawneer’s thermal entrances utilize thermal break technology to help minimize heat transfer in VISTA. The building’s entrances feature insulated glazing units, consisting of glass panes separated by air or gas-filled spaces, in a design that significantly reduces heat loss and improves thermal insulation. By maintaining consistent indoor temperatures and reducing drafts, these entrances enhance the comfort of students and faculty within VISTA, creating a more conducive environment for learning and collaboration.

As an additional benefit, the durability of 500T Insulpour^® Thermal Entrances helps meet the challenge of ensuring long-lasting performance in the demanding, high-traffic environment of an academic building.

“With its modern facilities and flexible spaces, VISTA will serve as a catalyst for transformative learning experiences, empowering our students to explore, discover and reach new heights of scientific achievement for many years to come.”

- Brenda Bullied, Director of Campus Planning and Facilities Services at Pomfret School

HELPING MEET ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

Aluminum is an infinitely recyclable material with its durability and high strength-to-weight ratio. Kawneer use 50% recycled aluminum content in its products, and Kawneer’s solutions can often last longer than other materials. Kawneer are also committed to providing product transparency through a range of industry standards, including Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Kawneer Material Transparency Summaries (MTS), the Cradle to Cradle Certified^® Products Program and Declare labels.

CHALLENGES

• The architect and building owner wanted to design a new academic facility on the previous site of the former Ambrose Monell III Science Building at Pomfret School that better connected with the surrounding landscape.
• The primary goal was to deliver on the vision of a modern academic facility that aligns with Pomfret School’s overall sustainability goals by minimizing environmental impact and maximizing energy efficiency.
• The architects wanted to ensure the building would deliver long-term high performance for the staff and students at Pomfret School.
• One of the goals was to design a versatile academic environment that promoted the well-being of students and staff, providing healthy spaces for concentrated study as well as easy relaxation.

SOLUTIONS

• Although VISTA occupies approximately the same footprint as the Ambrose Monell III Science Building, the new building has been strategically shifted slightly south. This repositioning opened the possibility of more expansive views of the western valley, achieved with the help of the large floor-to-ceiling glass walls of Kawneer’s 1600 Wall System^®1 Curtain Wall. The result delivers a stronger visual and environmental connection to the landscape than the previous facility, enhancing the overall aesthetic experience for students and faculty.
• Sustainable design strategies and architectural solutions were integrated throughout the VISTA building. The thermal performance of the 1600 Wall System^®1 Curtain Wall and 500T Insulpour^® Thermal Entrances help minimize the building’s need for heating and cooling technologies, lowering the facility’s energy consumption and long-term carbon footprint.
• Kawneer’s 500T Insulpour^® Thermal Entrances provide durability to withstand the moderate to high traffic and daily use of the school’s students and staff.
• Kawneer’s 1600 Wall System^®1 Curtain Wall allows natural light to flow into the building and classrooms, optimizing the well-being of students and staff to promote productivity, concentration and creative thinking. Natural light also helps create a relaxed atmosphere in the large communal areas, encouraging collaborative discussion.

PRODUCTS USED

• 1600 Wall System^®1 Curtain Wall
• 500T Insulpour^® Thermal Entrances