A unique science and library classroom addition featuring a geothermal exchange system will be dedicated Monday, Nov. 18 at Denison Montessori School, 1821 S. Yates St. The event will begin at 10 a.m.

One significant aspect of the new wing is the incorporation of a sustainable energy efficient design as both an example to the community and as a learning tool for students. The geothermal exchange system, which uses the ground to exchange heat for both heating and cooling, is unique in the district.

The system consists of a long-life, high-strength plastic pipe buried below the earth’s surface, a heat pump and an air distribution system.

At Denison, according to project manager Miguel Lander, the pipe was placed vertically in 20 holes to a depth of 175 feet each. This plastic pipe contains a water and antifreeze solution that allows heat to be transferred between the fluid in the pipe and the earth around it. This closed-loop pipe transports heat to a heat pump in the winter and away from the heat pump during the summer.

Finally, there is an air distribution system (ducts) for directing the heated or cooled air to different areas of the new library.

No chillers, cooling towers or boilers are required. The earth is used to heat and cool the addition.

The new structure has been carefully separated from the existing structure with an “outdoor room” and an exterior courtyard that allows direct sunlight and natural ventilation. A solarium acts both as a unifier of the science rooms and library spaces, as well as a link between the outdoor and indoor environments.

The 6,200-square-foot addition was built with the Montessori philosophy in mind, which requires a flexible learning environment.