Washington Elementary students will usher in their 2017-18 school year in a completely renovated building geared toward helping them get the most out of their education.
The Washington, formerly McKinley, elementary project is one of four district buildings the Owatonna’s school system is currently renovating to elevate student access to new learning technologies for more advanced classroom experiences with the help of other local Southern Minnesota businesses.
CDI, Schwab Vollhaber Lubratt, and Daikin Applied, were among the local teams who came together to design and deliver a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to serve the students and staff higher indoor air quality and maximum comfort.
“We chose to work with companies in Owatonna because connection and collaboration with our community is core to our mission,” says Bob Olson, Director of Buildings and Grounds, Owatonna Public Schools. “Our students are nurtured by this community every day throughout their lives and many of their parents work for the businesses we have partnered with on the renovation project.”
“Our team takes pride in contributing to community projects here and nationally, yet it’s even more meaningful when it’s the learning environment of our own kids and neighbors,” says Craig Vatsass Director of Operations for Daikin’s Owatonna facility. “We know for certain that students learn better when the air they breathe is clean. And, the premier quality of these Owatonna-made units ensures students are not distracted by open windows or humid, hot air.”
According to the EPA1, a school’s indoor environment can have a significant impact on health and learning. In documented studies, an EPA report shows increased classroom ventilation rates are associated with improvements in student health and performance, including speed of academic performance and increase in standardized test results.
“This project truly defines who we are as a community,” says Mike Peterson, Sales Engineering Vice President, Climate by Design International, Inc. (CDI). “As businesses and neighbors, we are driven by collaborating and in this case propelling the future of our kids.”
1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades, October 2014
