Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

A major goal of this renovation is to significantly improve the heading, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) in the Dent building. This need is greatest on Level 3, the Rose Window area, for large receptions, and the classrooms and great space in Level 4, the loft. The latter is our oldest HVAC system.

An interesting facet of building renovation is archeological -- discovering the skeletal structure of what is already in place. The "existing" has to be mapped before the "new" can be designed. This discovery process is neither quick nor smooth in our wonderful old school building.

In this picture, Brian, our reliable technician from CSI Mechanical, Inc., the firm that maintains our heating and cooling system, discovered the duct work that brings in outside air to the blower units in the northwest classrooms (Music, 1st Grade, 4th Grade). The plenum box you see in the picture is located in the rear parking lot just above a Music room window.

Dent Renovations -- Interior Classroom Design

One of the more difficult issues that we confront in the redesign of the Dent School into a contemporary learning environment is the classroom layout: custom cabinetry, shelving, storage, desks, chairs, etc. -- getting all that the faculty requires into space with many constraints. While the renovation project adds additional floor space to each classroom it changes the dynamic just enough that we have to devote a great deal of thought to how all the furniture and equipment will be placed in the new space as well as what can be recycled and what needs to be purchased or custom built.

Our architectural team lead by Robin McGrew, cox graae + spaak architects, www.cgsarchitects.com, have lead us to creative layout solutions for our classrooms. Kendall Grier and Barbara Keeling, Second Grade Teachers, review alternatives for locating the cubbies with Robin's guidance. In Kindergarten Jason Gray, Head of School, joins Robin as the co-teachers, Linda DeGraf and Venuta Carulli, site furniture and teaching material in their classroom which will be a significantly different shape following the renovation project.

Electrical Site Work Swing Space 1000 5th Street SE

Capitol Hill Day School has contracted with MC Dean, Inc., an electrical engineering firm based in Sterling, VA to complete the electrical installation for the modular units that the School plans to install at 1000 5th Street, SE.

Fortunately there is a PEPCO transformer on the site. MC Dean will work with PEPCO to activate the transformer, install a connector box and two panels on the modular units then connect the power from the transformer to the modular units.

At this stage of the planning process we expect each modular unit will have its own 8' copper ground.

This electrical work will be permitted through the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA).

Inspecting the PEPCO transformer, from left to right, Kelly Young, Operations Manager, Capitol Hill Day School, Michael Keatley, Project Manager, MC Dean, and Christopher Regan, the Day School's Project Manager for the swing space installation.

Teacher Workday -- Clean, Sort, Toss, Pack!

The Teacher Workday, Monday, April 4th was dedicated to cleaning out classrooms to prepare for the end of year move to swing space. Teachers packed first semester teaching materials for storage, cleaned out files, and identified teaching material for lessons during the remainder of the year.

I am sure you recognize many of the dedicated Day School faculty members pictured in this montage.