Project Overview
New London, CT – The Bennie Dover Jackson Multi-Magnet Middle School project in New London was a comprehensive, multi-year initiative involving phased renovations, selective demolition, and a thoughtfully designed addition to the existing facility. The revitalized 125,000-square-foot school will serve as a dynamic home for two of the district’s three magnet programs: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which is currently in candidacy status. The school will continue to support a robust arts curriculum, with renovations including dedicated spaces for band, digital arts, and visual arts.
As a Connecticut High Performance Building (CT HPB) compliant project, sustainability and energy efficiency are central to the design and construction approach. Key commissioning efforts included comprehensive reviews and testing of the HVAC systems, including the heating hot water and chilled water plants, air handling units, rooftop units (RTUs), dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS), variable air volume (VAV) systems, fan coil units (FCUs), perimeter radiation, cabinet and unit heaters, kitchen exhaust systems, and associated automatic temperature controls. SES also commissioned critical plumbing systems such as domestic hot water heaters, recirculation pumps, low-flow fixtures, and the fire protection system. Electrical system commissioning includes the emergency generator and automatic transfer switch (ATS), interior and exterior lighting controls, occupancy sensors, and the fire alarm system’s interface with HVAC components. In addition, SES played a vital role in building envelope commissioning—verifying the installation of waterproofing systems, air vapor barriers, exterior insulation, curtain walls, fenestration, roofing, and thermal bridging mitigation strategies.
