Two Providence Schools Awarded "Green Ribbon" Designation after Renovations

PROVIDENCE, R.I. —The Obama Administration named both Classical High School and Nathan Bishop Middle two of 78 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools honored nationally. The first-ever Green Ribbon designation was created to recognize schools that exhibit a commitment to sustainability, health and wellness, and environmental education.

Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Deborah A. Gist, who nominated both schools said, “Green Ribbon Schools are high-quality learning environments and they save taxpayer dollars. Classical and Nathan Bishop can serve as models… Rhode Island has been a leader in the green-school movement, and we’re proud that, among the 78 Green Ribbon Schools in the country, two are from our state.”

Prior to the awards, both Classical and Nathan Bishop underwent intensive renovations as part of Gilbane's Providence Public Schools Master Plan, an initiative to transform Providence public schools into state-of-the-art facilities that promote academic achievement.

Classical High School is Collaborative for High Performance Schools Design Criteria verified. It was renovated by Gilbane Building Company in 2011 to include :

• New science rooms with solar hot water
• Energy recovery units as part of the HVAC system
• 500-square-foot rooftop greenhouse to demonstrate scientific processes

Nathan Bishop Middle School was renovated by Gilbane Building Company in 2009 according to standards established by CHPS, and has since received an EPA EnergyStar Label. The renovation included the implementation of the several sustainable features, including:

• Energy recovery units
• Daylighting strategies
• Solar hot water systems

Gilbane is responsible for the renovation or construction of over 50 LEED certified and CHPS schools nationwide, totaling over 2-million-square-feet.