Meeting Street Center

Project Background

Meeting Street, founded in 1946, set out to create a “Center for Excellence” that would symbolize their role as a national leader in child development, education and therapeutic services for students from birth to twenty one years. The building was designed to house all of its services. It is one of the first, fully inclusive schools in the nation for pre-K through 12th grade. The unique aspect of the model is the integration of children with and without disabilities attending a full service center that complements its educational programs.

Faced with a sloping site and a desire to avoid stairs, a series of terraced levels connected by ramps, were incorporated into the design to accommodate both ambulatory and non ambulatory students. Multiple levels created along the ramp are used to house offices and conference rooms.

Strategies and Results

Some of the project’s sustainable design features are:

• Dedicated open space greater than building footprint to reduce site disturbance

• Remediation of a previously contaminated site

• Alternative transportation strategies, such as close proximity to public transportation, bicycle storage and changing facilities, reduced parking capacity, and preferred spaces for car pooling

• Storm water strategies treat and reduce water runoff by 52%

• Shaded areas, light-colored paved and roofing surfaces, and a green roof reduce the heat island effect

• Existing structure and materials were demolished, separated on-site and recycled

• Concrete foundations and floors, crushed on site, were used as a structural base for the new building

• 94% of on-site generated construction waste was diverted from landfills

• 14% of total building materials have recycled content, 24% were locally manufactured and 80% were locally harvested

• 58% of the total wood based building materials were harvested from FSC certified forests

• Indoor environmental quality was improved through increased ventilation

• Implementation of an indoor air quality management plan during construction and prior to occupancy

• Adhesives, paints, and carpets have low VOC (volatile organic compound) content

• Finish products such as carpets, resilient flooring and ceiling tiles have high percentage recycled content

• Innovation credit awarded for efficiently designed HVAC system

About Meeting Street

Meeting Street is where infants, preschoolers and children of all ages and abilities receive individualized attention from highly trained, dedicated educators, therapists, and other professionals who work as a team, sharing strategies and identifying solutions to bring out the best in each and every child.
The word we hear parents use most often to describe us is, “caring” — caring that continues throughout the day and extends beyond our campus into neighborhoods and homes where we forge strong partnerships with families to help them best meet the challenges in their children’s lives.

Download LEED Project Profile (PDF)