PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth Abbey School has started work to build a new science building as part of its $20 million “Securing Our Academic Future” campaign. 

The state-of-the-art science education facility has been designed by Architerra, an architecture, community design, and development advisory firm dedicated to sustainable design and smart growth. 

The 32,163-square-foot building will include seven laboratories, seven classrooms, faculty offices, a multi-purpose seminar room and a multi-story commons that will serve as the crossroads of science and the humanities for the school. 

Portsmouth Abbey has contracted with A/Z Corporation for the construction of the building, which will adhere to the highly efficient low-emissions green standards followed by the School since 2007. 

Its eco-friendly components will meet LEED Gold design specifications, and its flexible-use interior will ensure that the school can remain abreast of the rapidly changing academic landscape in the sciences, according to the Abbey.

"This is an incredible academic initiative and perhaps the most important initiative in the school's history because it will allow us to truly have an academic center at Portsmouth Abbey," said Headmaster Dan McDonough, speaking to the crowd of several hundred students, faculty, staff, regents and guests who gathered for the groundbreaking on Sept. 29. 

The wood- and steel-framed structure will complement the existing campus architecture, designed by Pietro Belluschi, a leader of the Modern Movement in architecture and dean of the MIT School of Architecture and Planning from 1951-1965. Mr. Belluschi designed 14 of the 27 buildings on campus between 1960 and 1991.

The campaign has raised $13 million toward its $20 million goal, and the project is expected to be completed in late 2018.

For more information about the project, visit www.portsmouthabbeyscience.org.