$87 million net-zero middle school in Middletown, Conn., nears completion

The Middletown (Conn.) school district is close to completing construction of the $87.3 million Beman Middle School.  

The district demolished the Woodrow Wilson Middle school to construct Beman Middle School. The new school will serve students who had been attending Keigwin and Woodrow Wilson middle schools. About 920 students in grades six through eight will attend the new middle school, reports The Middletown Press. 

The existing Woodrow Wilson gymnasiums, pool and locker rooms will be reconfigured as a stand-alone building and eventually will become a city recreation facility.  For now, the district is leaving the Keigwin Middle School vacant.

The 160,000-square-foot Beman Middle was designed as three "houses" with an innovation lab that will feature a ceiling grid, STEM labs, and maker spaces. The innovation lab will enable students to choose from several pathways in STEAM -- such as computer science or aerospace manufacturing. The school will also feature an auditorium and a large gymnasium. 

The new school is predicted to be more energy efficient by some 28.5% compared with other similarly sized buildings. Installation of rooftop solar panels, could get the school's electrical production close to what it consumes, which would make the facility net-zero.

Groups of classroom walls will be painted in hues of three “bright, enthusiastic” colors: orange, blue and green.