Private School's Green Dorm Inspires Simsbury Toward Sustainability

Simsbury Sustainability Committee

SIMSBURY, CT — A recent showcase of a local private school's green residence hall has inspired a Simsbury environmental group to encourage other buildings like that.

The Simsbury Sustainability Committee and The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury March 22 showed off the all-girls school's new, all-electric, high-efficiency residence hall at the Ethel Walker School by hosting community tours there.

Curious community members attended to see this "beautiful and well-designed structure," wrote the committee in a release this week.

According to the committee, the new hall is designed to achieve net zero carbon emissions.

Called "Mountain View," the residence hall features 241 solar panels, electric heating and cooling, triple-glazed windows, a green roof planted with sedum, and water storage under the residence hall to capture rainwater for use in nearby gardens.

Designed by Maryann Thompson Architects, Mountain View has Japanese influences with overhanging eaves that block hot summer sun, but allow in light and expansive views of the surrounding landscape, rain chains, and burned cedar interior walls that do not require paint.

Students at the Ethel Walker School moved into their new 54-bed residence hall in September 2024.

“We needed a new residence hall and we wanted to create a building that blurred the boundaries between the outside natural environment and the inside built environment,” said Dr. Meera Viswanathan, head of The Ethel Walker School.

“We wanted lots of light, low toxicity in the materials, social spaces for building friendships, and a place that gave students a sense of awe,” she added.

The tour’s intent was to inspire all of Simsbury to build sustainability features into our homes and businesses, like solar panels, heat pumps, and strong insulation.

For more information on the Simsbury Sustainability Committee, click on this link.

For more information on The Ethel Walker School's 'Mountain View' dormitory, click on this link.