Norfolk Academy - Leadership Center

 The James B. Massey Jr. Leadership Center, named for an influential headmaster who led Norfolk Academy from 1950 into the modern era, lies at the crossroads of the campus, a constantly bustling hub for study and classroom learning that connects the Upper and Middle Schools. The Massey Leadership Center earned LEED Gold certification and is a net zero building; it is powered by 1,950 solar panels, installed on several rooftops at the school. The solar project, spearheaded by a parent who is a NASA engineer and an environmentalist, was designed as a teaching tool. Three touch-panel kiosks are installed in high activity spots on campus, allowing students to see in real-time the amount of energy that is being generated and utilized, not just in the Massey Center, but also across the entire campus. 

The glass doors and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows provide ample natural light and invite students and faculty to gain inspiration from Nature, even when working inside. The new courtyard, featuring an abundance of plants native to Virginia, can serve as a space for gatherings. Plants in the courtyard and in enclosed beds at the front of the building are part of a rainwater filtration system. Other features of the building that spotlight sustainability include LED lighting throughout with motion sensors; an energy-efficient HVAC System; and low flow and hands-free plumbing fixtures. 

The Massey Leadership Center expresses the school’s commitment to teaching about global environmental sustainability, said Headmaster Dennis Manning. "Sustainability is a long-term commitment for our school."