Mark Biedron
Understanding
Sustainable Building
The Willow School
presented by
Mark Biedron
A truly unique and outstanding feature of The Willow School is it's approach to nature and the surrounding environment. Situated in the beautiful New Jersey countryside on a spectacular 34-acre forested site, the school does so fully embrace its surroundings that the site is integral to all aspects of the curriculum.
The buildings incorporate many environmentally sensitive design features, allowing the school to seek a high level of certification from the United States Green Building Council in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The grounds preserve the natural beauty of the area, with design features that include many outdoor learning spaces and constructed wetlands for the filtration of wastewater that provide for the return of an abundance of clean water to the groundwater system. Natural meadows, butterfly gardens, water harvesting and hedgerows are incorporated into the site.
Willow School children learn about sustaining healthy surroundings through the protection of air and water, and the preservation and conservation of natural resources. Walks in the forest, classes held outdoors and in classrooms with large windows and an abundance of natural light, outdoor music and poetry experiences, and connections between art and nature allow children to connect with nature and to find peace and harmony in the beauty of the natural world.
