Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School Awarded LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION

LEED certification was awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Certification is based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. At GRCES, these features include: optimized energy performance, high recycled content interiors, low-VOC paint finishes, a white roof, rain gardens, storm water management and added green space. 

“We worked closely with Rockford Construction to incorporate numerous strategies intended to improve performance, such as energy savings, water efficiency, and stewardship of resources,” says President of AMDG Architects, Peter Baldwin. “Utilizing sustainable elements illustrates Grand Rapids Christian Schools’ commitment to long-term sustainability and, in turn, savings that will benefit GRCES and the surrounding environment.”

“This school reaffirms our commitment to invest resources locally, to continue to provide high quality Christian education to families residing in the city of Grand Rapids,” says Tom DeJonge, Superintendent of Grand Rapids Christian Schools. “The school’s design is a result of thorough input from a wide range of teachers, administrators and parents. It contains many features that allow flexibility for large group, small group, and individual instruction areas and aligns with theories of effective instructional strategies. Receiving LEED certification in an honor for GRCES as it demonstrates good design and good stewardship.” 

On Friday, April 29, at 3:10 p.m., GRCES principal, Dr. Mark Krommendyk, and GRCS Superintendent, Tom DeJonge, along with teachers, students, and representatives from AMDG Architects and Rockford  Construction, will celebrate the LEED certification at the school’s outdoor amphitheater on the grounds of the 75,000-square-foot facility. 

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Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School

The Preschool through 4th grade facility, located on the site of the former Grand Rapids Public Iroquois Middle School, unites Grand Rapids Christian Schools’ three traditional-calendar elementary schools at one, state-of-the-art campus. The facility features spacious classrooms and common areas to support large- and small-group learning, advanced technology and infrastructure for wireless Internet access and multimedia educational resources, and large windows and balconies designed to visually connect the indoor learning environment to the school gardens, grounds and surrounding neighborhood.

A park on the east side of the property, known as Pontiac Field, was renovated and includes a track, soccer field, tennis courts and improved playgrounds for students and neighbors. An amphitheater, “Fruit of the Spirit” meditation garden, and environmentally-conscious landscaping complete the grounds.

For more information, visit www.grcs.org/elementary.

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(616) 574-6019