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School For Deaf Plans Overhaul Of Gallaudet Hall -- Courant.com
The American School for the Deaf is planning a $31 million overhaul of Gallaudet Hall, the 87-year-old signature structure on the landmark school's North Main Street campus.
The Georgian-style building, with distinctive white columns, opened in 1921 — when the school moved to West Hartford from Asylum Avenue and Cogswell Street in Hartford. It has never had a major renovation.
The school has applied for zoning approval and a public hearing will be held Sept. 3 before the town plan and zoning commission.
The state is providing $25 million of the funding; $6 million comes from the school's endowment, said Edward Peltier, the school's executive director.
Connecticut students attend the school free, under a partnership between the state and the school that dates from the mid-1800s.
The construction project would "allow for a an upgraded, code-compliant, state-of-the-art education environment," according to the school's submission to the plan and zoning commission.
"The building has historical significance. The school recognizes it's time to do some reinvestment and bring it up to code," said Town Planner Mila Limson.
The project includes removing two additions in back that weren't part of the original structure, creating an outdoor dining and recreation area for students who live on campus, and a complete renovation of the interior.
"The emphasis is on visual communication, which is so important for deaf students, and on technology. That is the way you level the playing field for our students," said Marilyn Rettig, director of institutional advancement.
Students and teachers at the school already use an array of technical tools, including smart boards, projectors and cutting-edge amplification equipment, but some of the rooms don't have all of the technology.
The hallmark of the interior work, said Rettig and Peltier, is space and light — with airy rooms and uninterrupted sight lines.
"Deaf students have to see the teacher and the printed material on the smart boards and they have to see each other in order to communicate. The new design allows for this visual connectivity," Peltier said.
About 200 students attend the school, with half living on campus. The school also provides educational services to another 200 students in their own school districts.
Founded in 1817, the school is the oldest special-education school in the country, and is the birthplace of American Sign Language.
In addition to having classrooms, Gallaudet Hall houses the student lounge, cafeteria, main library, and administrative offices.
The school hopes to start the work in the fall. During construction, portable classrooms will be set up, and students will also attend class in other buildings on campus.
The American School for the Deaf is planning a $31 million overhaul of Gallaudet Hall, the 87-year-old signature structure on the landmark school's North Main Street campus.
The Georgian-style building, with distinctive white columns, opened in 1921 — when the school moved to West Hartford from Asylum Avenue and Cogswell Street in Hartford. It has never had a major renovation.
The school has applied for zoning approval and a public hearing will be held Sept. 3 before the town plan and zoning commission.
The state is providing $25 million of the funding; $6 million comes from the school's endowment, said Edward Peltier, the school's executive director.
Connecticut students attend the school free, under a partnership between the state and the school that dates from the mid-1800s.
The construction project would "allow for a an upgraded, code-compliant, state-of-the-art education environment," according to the school's submission to the plan and zoning commission.
"The building has historical significance. The school recognizes it's time to do some reinvestment and bring it up to code," said Town Planner Mila Limson.
The project includes removing two additions in back that weren't part of the original structure, creating an outdoor dining and recreation area for students who live on campus, and a complete renovation of the interior.
"The emphasis is on visual communication, which is so important for deaf students, and on technology. That is the way you level the playing field for our students," said Marilyn Rettig, director of institutional advancement.
Students and teachers at the school already use an array of technical tools, including smart boards, projectors and cutting-edge amplification equipment, but some of the rooms don't have all of the technology.
The hallmark of the interior work, said Rettig and Peltier, is space and light — with airy rooms and uninterrupted sight lines.
"Deaf students have to see the teacher and the printed material on the smart boards and they have to see each other in order to communicate. The new design allows for this visual connectivity," Peltier said.
About 200 students attend the school, with half living on campus. The school also provides educational services to another 200 students in their own school districts.
Founded in 1817, the school is the oldest special-education school in the country, and is the birthplace of American Sign Language.
In addition to having classrooms, Gallaudet Hall houses the student lounge, cafeteria, main library, and administrative offices.
The school hopes to start the work in the fall. During construction, portable classrooms will be set up, and students will also attend class in other buildings on campus.