The Brian S. McCarthy Middle School at 41 DiAntonio Dr. will welcome students for the first time on Aug. 27. Telegraph photo by Christopher Roberson

NASHUA – After two-and-a-half years of construction, the Brian S. McCarthy Middle School will open its doors on Aug. 27 with a myriad of features designed to reduce energy costs.

“It’s all up to building code, if not more,” said Shawn Smith, director of plant operations for the Nashua Public Schools, adding that McCarthy is built to accommodate up to 850 students in grades 6-8.

Within the $93 million construction cost, $52 million was invested in energy-saving measures. According to NHSaves, it is estimated that the energy upgrades at McCarthy will save approximately $50,000 per year.

Smith also said an array of solar panels will be installed on the roof in September.

“The solar will carry the electrical load for the school,” he said.

Smith said solar power is already being used at Pennichuck Middle School, Crisp Elementary School and Fairgrounds Middle School. As a result, each of those schools saves an average of $1,685 per month.

Three Bosch boilers will be used to heat the 212,000 square-foot building, which reaches up to four stories tall. Smith said one of them is a large energy-efficient boiler, which will be used during the “saddle seasons” of fall and spring. The other two, which are slightly smaller, will be used during the winter months.

He also said the building has two Hubbell water heaters and runs off the city’s water supply. Although a well system was initially considered, Smith said it turned out to be an impractical idea.

“We would’ve needed more than one well,” he said. “It wasn’t worth it.”

The school has also partnered with indoor air quality company Sanalife which has installed a filtration system that removes 90 percent of germs from the air.

In addition to having LED lights throughout the building, Smith said the classroom lights have sensors that allow them to darken or brighten depending on the amount of outdoor sunlight.

In terms of security, the school is almost a fortress.

In addition to the outside doors being locked during the day, Smith said the school’s exterior windows are bulletproof.

While outside cameras are constantly monitoring the premises, the school has a shooter detection system specifically designed to triangulate the location of an intruder and identify any weapon they may be carrying. That information is then immediately sent to the Nashua Police Department.

In the event of a building lockdown, the fireproof double doors in the hallways will shut and lock with the push of a button making it far more difficult for an intruder to move freely throughout the school.