Updated: 8/14/2008 9:46:46 AM
"It's a beauty," Pat Postma said as she walked the halls of the newly renovated Oak Ridge High School. "I love the architectural designs when I first saw it."
Postma graduated from O.R.H.S in 1956. Her father was the principal of the school at that time. Later, she would marry her late husband, who was once the director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
After playing a crucial role during construction, it shouldn't be a surprise that Postma wanted to make sure education and innovation came together in the renovated building.
Wednesday, she looked over the school with former O.R.N.L. employee Tim Myrick, who helped put a green imprint in all the the state-of-the-art rooms.
"We went with natural light throughout the school, as part of the sustainable design approach," Myrick pointed out.
Not only are there windows everywhere you look, the carpet contains recycled fibers. Also, the paint is low emission, which means it helps keep the air pure.
Another green feature lies underneath the soccer field. There are 200 geothermal wells that cool and warm water depending on the ground'ss temperature. That water is then used to cool or heat the school.
Myrick and other workers from O.R.N.L. wanted to make sure that the science carries over to the classroom.
"We brought in a consultant from California that works on college campus labs," Myrick added.
Now, it's up to the students to make high school memories just like Pat Postma did when she attended the school.
"I'm thrilled to see what it's turned out to be. It has far exceeded my expectations," Postma said.
O.R.N.L. donated $2 million to the $55 million project.
