VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — On Monday the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Virginia Beach City Public Schools broke ground on an innovative sustainable classroom at Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environmental Center.
The Virginia Beach groundbreaking took place from 3:15 to 4 p.m.
Once built, high school students in a new VBCPS Environmental Studies Program will learn inside every day in an inspiring classroom and outside on the Chesapeake Bay and Pleasure House Point.
RELATED: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, groups file suit to overturn EPA attempt to repeal Clean Air Act waiver
RELATED: Chesapeake Bay Foundation to christen new floating oyster restoration center in Virginia Beach
The Macon F. and Joan P. Brock Classroom will follow all the same practices that have made the Brock Center a model for sustainable design and construction.
“There's nothing more important than educating the next generation about the environment and sustainability,” said Joan Brock. “A classroom at Pleasure House Point opens a world of exciting possibilities that will have a ripple effect on the community and beyond for years to come. I'm so proud to support this mission.”
Construction of the 1,600 square-foot facility will begin in early 2020 and students will begin attending classes there after Labor Day, 2020.
Tymoff+Moss Architects have led design of the building with support from SmithGroup, which worked on the Brock Center. Conrad Brothers, Inc., will be the general contractor for the project. Site design will be performed by WPL, which did the original site design for the Brock Center and the master plan for Pleasure House Point.
"Future legislators, scientists, engineers, and architects will walk these halls, explore these beautiful grounds, learn in this sustainably-built classroom, and ultimately change the world,” said VBCPS Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence. “Where better can students experience our city’s and our division’s unique educational opportunities than here at the Brock Center, truly a monument to environmental design and sustainability.”