Reconstruction of the East Somerville Community School will begin in less than three weeks, and the new building will have a number of energy-saving features, according to a presentation by school and city officials at a recent community meeting. 

A fire damaged the building in 2007. Since then, the school has held classes at the Capuano, Argenziano, Edgerly and Cummings buildings. 

The skeleton of the school stands after a contractor removed its components piece by piece with cranes and other equipment. The contractor plans to reuse 90 percent of the materials during reconstruction, said Gerald Boyle, the city's director of capital projects. 

"The days of demolition when people brought in a wrecking ball and cut it away are gone," he said. 

However, workers removed all of the asbestos in the insulation, said Boyle. He said that because it was intact, the heat-resistant, fibrous material never threatened anyone's health. 

The Massachusetts School Building Authority has funded 80 percent of the cost of rebuilding about 80 percent of the school, Boyle said. The investment amounts to $15 million. The authority didn't invest in the whole project because it doesn't sponsor auditoriums or gymnasiums, which the new building will have. 

Greening the building 
The district received the grant because the blueprint for the building included several attributes that together will reduce energy use by approximately 45 percent, said Lynn Stapleton, the architect for the project. 

The building has run on electricity since its construction in 1972, said Boyle. But a new gas-operated heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system will reduce energy output at night. In addition, sensors will shut off lights when classrooms are empty. 

Meanwhile, an ample number of windows and skylights will allow natural light to permeate the building. 

Plants will cover a portion of the roof, which students will be able to see from nooks on the second floor. The building will also feature two interior courtyards, one of which Groundwork Somerville will use for its schoolyard gardening program. 

Reconstructing, respectfully
Michael Marcella, who is managing the reconstruction of the school, said that workers would usually work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Marcella said that workers would transport materials along major streets to avoid disturbing residents. 

"We don't want to be bad neighbors," he said. 

The company has offered to videotape homes next to the site for free to prevent possible disputes about damaged property. 

Learn more about the reconstruction of the school on the district's website.