Data Delivery

In case you haven’t seen it up and running, the flat-screen television at the entrance to the second floor by the science classrooms is now displaying data about The Commons’ energy use and production. Thanks to Richard Lange, Max Bednarcyk and the ongoing work of the web design club in...

Guest blogger Seeley–Living Building class

Living Building     The Commons is a high-tech building. There are many different systems that can be manipulated to allow for the greatest energy efficiency. They are not easy systems to learn and understand. That is where the Living Building class plays an important role. Living Building was an Upper...

Commons Student Council

We are pleased to have students as our guest bloggers now that we are in full swing in the Commons. One such student is Seeley Taylor, president of the 10th Grade class and chair of the Commons Student Council. She is also a member of the Living Building class. She...

Good Times in the Commons

“I don’t always write computer programs, but when I do….” These fine gentlemen are working hard on the technical side of collecting data from the various systems in the Commons and making sure that there is way for those systems to share information in a way for students to compare...

Recent Local and National Media

Over the past month, Harley’s Commons, greenhouse (The Salad Project) and Hospice Program have been featured in local and national media. The links to the two “Go Green” segments on WROC Channel 8 News can be found below. Go Green: School Grows Its Own Food Go Green: The Commons Mindful...

Training by Kenron for the VRF system

Several key players in knowing how the systems of the Commons operate (admin, staff, teachers, students, and construction foreman) spent 90 minutes this afternoon learning about the Variable Refrigerant Flow system and controls. Shawn Maier and Walker Calderwood of Kenron walked the group through the computer controls, the governing software,...

First assembly in the BCCE

In a room designed specifically for town hall meetings, assemblies, and civic purpose, the entire Upper School student body and faculty gathered for the first-ever assembly held in the Briggs Center for Civic Engagement (BCCE). This was an opportunity to gather together to experience the new space and to gain...

Media about the Commons

The interesting and compelling story about the Commons has received some recent media attention. Commons Coordinator, Seth O’Bryan, wrote an article about a hypothetical day in the life of the Commons, and how students and teachers will be learning side by side. This was published in the National Association for...

Solar panels on the southern roof!

The last few weeks have focused on finishing up the interior of the Commons, but a few obvious additions can be seen on the roof. These solar panels will be responsible for heating the water of the building, hopefully eliminating the need for any traditional hot water heaters. The view...

Chris Costanza–architect and teacher

We are indeed fortunate to have Chris Costanza, the designing architect of The Commons, available to interact with our students of all levels. He had a busy day today, starting off speaking with the Lower School Project-Based Learning class of 3rd and 4th graders about being an architect and his...