Northwood News ♦ December 2003

‘Green Construction’ at Northwood High School

By Charlie Pritchard

The Northwood-Four Corners Civic Association has a long history of concern over Northwood High School.  We were concerned when Montgomery County Public Schools decided to close the high school in the late 1980s as part of the program to create a new Blair High School in the down county.  The future role of the Northwood facility and property was questioned at that time.  There were rumors that it would be sold and razed to make room for an apartment complex.  Another suggestion was that the facility would become an “incubator” for various commercial enterprises.  Finally, MCPS decided to use Northwood as a “holding school,” that is, a temporary home for the student bodies of other high schools slated for significant renovation.  This function has been completed.

An increase in student population, combined with an ailing local economy and reduced tax base, has led MCPS to plan reuse of Northwood as part of the “down county consortium” of high schools.  Concerns still exist in the communities that made up the original Northwood cluster on the suitability of the Northwood facility, which was originally closed because of its age and deterioration.  A full renovation of Northwood has not been considered because of budgetary shortages.  The key words here are “reopening” and “additions.”

Stepping up to the problem of suitability has been a team of three residents of the down county:  Leah V. Hapgood, Edward Murtagh, and Kathleen Michels.  All have experience in facility suitability design and construction, particularly LEED [Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design].  LEED involves the application of guidelines in construction that provide high standards of air and lighting qualities, use of nontoxic construction materials, mitigation of storm water runoff, use of efficient electrical and electronic appliances, and salvage of disposable trash.  All of this requires extra money in initial construction costs but pays off in longer life of the facility and reduced costs in operation.

The team advises MCPS and an architectural firm on LEED application, provides public input, and was recently honored by the Civic Federation of Montgomery County by awards based on their uncompensated cooperation.  The recommendations for the awards originated in our community, which is a member of the Federation.  It is interesting to note that the reopened Northwood High School will be the home of an “Environmental Academy,” which will provide academic preparation for careers in environmental science and management.   ■