Maryland Chapter of US Green Building Council Honors SEED School

SEED School of Maryland

February 05, 2010

Sparks, MD

At their fifth annual awards banquet, held on January 28 at The Athenaeum at Goucher College in Baltimore, the Maryland Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) honored the SEED School of Maryland with a Special Recognition Award in the new construction schools and universities subcategory. 

SEED is a cutting-edge educational facility based on a model developed by the SEED Foundation. The school combines strong college preparatory academics with a boarding program that teaches life skills and provides students with a safe and secure environment. The foundation is a national nonprofit that works with urban communities to provide educational opportunities for underserved students in preparation for success in college. The SEED School of Maryland is the foundation’s second campus and closely follows the program implemented at a similar facility in Washington, D.C.

As a subconsultant to Marks Thomas Architects, Sparks, Maryland-based engineer firm, KCI Technologies Inc., provided planning, utility investigations, site grading and utility design, sediment and erosion control, and stormwater management for the former South Western High 52-acre campus that had been granted to the foundation by the City of Baltimore. Construction of a new four-story dormitory was completed in time for the school’s scheduled opening in August of 2008. Future construction plans involve two additional multi-story dormitories to house 270 students, as well as apartments and individual housing for teachers and staff. The design was prepared to meet LEED-NC (New Construction) certification requirements and incorporated many sustainable strategies for integrating the school and community.

USGBC recognizes projects, professionals and companies that exemplify innovative green and sustainability practices as part of their yearly Green Building Awards program.  The awards acknowledge those who help fulfill the Maryland chapter’s mission statement to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live, work, learn and heal.

KCI is an engineering, consulting and construction firm serving clients throughout the Northeast, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, as well as other parts of the U.S. and beyond. With revenues of approximately $131 million in 2009, KCI is ranked 83 on the Engineering News-Record's list of the top 500 engineering firms in the country. More than 850 KCI employee owners provide environmental, transportation, telecommunications, construction, facilities, and land development services from over 20 locations. For more information, visit www.kci.com.

For more information please contact:
George G. Perdikakis, Sr.
georgep@kci.com
410.316.7951