AMALA
ANNAI
HIGH
SCHOOL
MAMBAKKAM A SCHOOL FOR THE FUTURE AWARDED ‘IGBC PLATINUM’ RATING —1—
2018
Opening of Saint Mary’s Primary School - Mambakkam
2015 Launch of Elena Cuomo Scholarship Programme for gifted female students
2009 Construction of Mount Carmel Nursery & Primary School - Kovalam
2006
Construction of a Boarding Home for boys - K.G. Kandigai R.C. Higher Sec School - Sendivakkam
2004 Construction of 2 Boarding Homes for boys and girls - Kovalam
2001 First encounter with the Kovalam Church (Tamil Nadu)
Opening of the Green Labelled Amala Annai High School, Mambakkam
2016 Mambakkam’s Amala Annai High School’s construction begins
2014 Construction of a Boarding Home for Girls, K.G. Kandigai
2007 Support for St Anthony’s Primary School - Chennai Construction of Cathedral Free Primary School - Chennai Construction of a Boarding Home for Girls and Boys - Sendivakkam Construction of a Multi-purpose Hall - Sendivakkam Boarding Home for Girls and Boys - Sendivakkam Construction of Cathedral Free Primary School - Chennai
2005 Launch of Alfredo Cuomo Scholarship Programme
2002 Support to John d’Monte Primary School - Kovalam Construction of St. Joseph’s Higher Sec. School - Kovalam
1999
Amala Annai High School Mambakkam - Tamil Nadu, India
A School for The Future
A groundbreaking new school has been built by the Cuomo Foundation in partnership with the Roman Catholic Church, represented by the Diocese of Chingleput. The school is set on its own campus, in the rural village of Mambakkam, district of Kanchipuram, in the State of Tamil Nadu, Southern India. This new secondary school, named Amala Annai, is the latest in a series of educational compounds established and supported by the Cuomo Foundation, working in Tamil Nadu since 1999. Thousands of pupils daily benefit from infrastructures and fellowship programmes initiated by the Foundation in the region.
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TAMIL NADU’S FIRST ‘IGBC PLATINUM’ RATED
GREEN SCHOOL The pioneering Amala Annai High School is the first catholic church-run school in the state of Tamil Nadu to have obtained the coveted LEED certification. The designation is granted by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) affiliated to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The Hyderabad-based IGBC is the country’s premier body for green building certification and allied services and the leader of India’s green building movement. Besides the infrastructural facilities, energy efficiency, water conservation and waste management, the IGBC Green Schools rating system also addresses more intangible aspects like eco-friendly education, health, hygiene, nutrition, physical activity & safety. Amala Annai High School met and achieved all these requirements and has been awarded the IGBC’s ‘Platinum- National Excellence’ rating—a highly sought-after ranking among Green Schools.
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A CAPACITY FOR
800 PUPILS WITH MODERN FACILITIES The school, with a capacity for 800 pupils, has various facilities designed for academic and extracurricular activities. There are a total of 44 well proportioned classrooms and a multi-purpose hall that will serve both as an examination room and an auditorium for the school’s assemblies and cultural activities. A dedicated computer lab with 30 working stations complements the school’s Scientific section which houses 2 spacious science and physics laboratories. 2 outdoor assembly/dance activity areas are located either side of the school building. Secured from entrance to the school if required, yet with access from within the campus, these areas allow the local community to utilise the shared space for their own activities and meetings, thus creating a direct link between the new complex and the local population. One of the main areas of concern for the build is to ensure the link the school is capable of maintaining with its environment: the repercussions which this “green hub” is liable to galvanise across the local region.
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Amala Annai High School’s
GREEN BUILDING PRACTICES
Site selection and planning is a cornerstone of the school’s green building philosophy. Amongst the soil preservation measures adopted are erosion control management methods such as tree sapling and loan spreads, reuse of stockpiled soil for landscaping purposes and a comprehensive water drainage system. Minimising the building’s heat exposure is assured by the layering of standard weathering tiles on the rooftop, a specifically designed tile with thermal insulation.
Among sustainable water practices adopted in the project are the use of water-efficient plumbing fixtures capable of saving 26% of annual water use. A water-efficient landscaping is carried out on the premises, covering a surface of 7475 m2, with priority given to native and draught tolerant tree species.
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100% of the waste water generated in the school is treated in-site. Treated water accounts for 85% of the water volume required annually. Water thus treated is used for gardening and landscaping purposes.
No air-conditioning equipment is installed in the school. The high rate of openable grills and ventilated areas (19% of the building) accounts for natural air-flow while guaranteeing sufficient daylight supply. No ozone-depleting substances are used in the premises ; refrigerants and fire extinctions are all eco-friendly. 20% of the energy resources required annually by the compound is provided by renewable technologies i.e. photovoltaic cell panels. Additionally, up to 56% of the lights sources are energyefficient lightbulbs.
Furthermore, water treatment system makes use of tile cuts recuperated from the building site to filter water.
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The exhaust systems for IT and Science laboratories, kitchen area and toilet buildings are equipped with natural ventilation canals, due mainly to openings which combine vertical and horizontal natural exhaust systems.
Eco-friendly certified wood has been used for up to 32% of total wood requirements. In addition, recycled glass, steel and aluminium account for 32% of raw-material needs. 97% of the building materials used in the project are from local suppliers located within a range of 85 km. Construction bricks were produced in the surrounding area and the floor tiles were made of Tandur, a natural stone originating from the Telangana region of Southern India. During the construction phase, the entire workforce of nearly 100 male and female labourers were recruited from the local region.
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Waste segregation is promoted and facilitated by the presence of coloured bins. Organic waste, collected from the kitchen and the bins, is then sent to the vermi-compost facility located in the school campus. Compost thus produced will be recycled as fertiliser and soil amendment.
As part of the schools health and physical activity programme, outdoor sporting facilities are provided for the school community. Facilities to play outdoor and indoor games such as tennis, cricket, basketball, running, khokho, volleyball, chess, carom and table tennis are available within the school premises. Amala Annai High School’s playground and sport activity areas exceed the recommended ratio by more than 35%.
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SCHOOL CURRICULAM’S
GREEN EDUCATION Various extra-curricular activities are organised in Amala Annai High School to promote green education amongst staff and pupils. The “Green committee”, composed by 20 boys and 20 girls, oversees these activities... Marking a further new step in its green commitment, the Cuomo Foundation has sought the collaboration of the renowned Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) to boost the school’s green curriculum. This partnership with the Chennai-based technical university will see the implementation of a series of workshops to be held both at the school premises and in the university. These sessions, yet to be refined with the consent of all the parties involved, will be revolving around two main aspects: entrepreneurship awareness to encourage pupils to solve socially relevant problems through technologies and capacity building projects to integrate the sustainable features of the school building within its educational mission.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras is among the foremost institutes of national importance in higher technological education, basic and applied research. It is a residential institute with nearly 550 faculties, 8000 students and 1250 administrative & supporting staff. Focusing on the building itself, the second phase of this pedagogic programme proposes a thorough understanding of the building design and site, engaging with its high performance features and processes. In that matter, the IITM proposes to establish the school and its various functions as a green building model, in order to set the innovative school build as an example for other institutions. — 13 —
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FOUNDATION’S
GREEN COMMITMENT Active for nearly two decades, the Cuomo Foundation has always been sensitive to contemporary issues while remaining true to its founding mission : Access to Education.
Change (IPCC)—the UN’s scientific body focusing on climate change— has already supported a dozen young scientists from developing countries to find solutions for climatic hazards which affect their countries.
Among the crucial issues confronting today’s world is the importance of the effects of climate change. The Foundation has taken up its share of responsibility in this global matter, launching and supporting actions through international partnerships.
In this perspective, the new school in Mambakkam further epitomises the Foundation’s present ecological position. This pilot project involving eco-friendly products, sustainable local construction methods and technologies is an The coherent outcome of embodiment of this a 20 year-old commitment awareness—one that in India, the project is (...), responds to tomorrow’s also a reminder of India’s challenges.
The Foundation’s participation in the outreach event organised by UNESCO enormous ecological for COP21, held at The coherent outcome responsibility as a global the 2015 Paris Climate power in the crucial years of a 20 year-old Summit, was a strong commitment in India, to come. statement stimulating the project is all the development in this more meaningful at a direction. time when emerging countries, with The project the foundation has deep socio-economic mutations, are launched with the Zeine Collective manifesting their willingness to be in the North of Burkina Faso is an engaged in the ecological transition. example of one tangible solution required for an urgent situation : Finally, the project is also a access to drinking water. reminder of India’s enormous The fellowship program ecological responsibility as a global in partnership with the power in the crucial years to come. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate — 15 —
"...The coherent outcome of a 20 yearold commitment in India, the project is all the more meaningful at a time when emerging countries, with deep socioeconomic mutations, are manifesting their willingness to be engaged in the ecological transition. This is also a reminder of India’s enormous ecological responsibility as a global power in the crucial years to come."
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