Newsroom
Contact Info
Jana Kettering
Senior Communications Specialist
Communication and External Relations – Kennecott Utah Companies
Jana.kettering [at] kennecott.com
Kennecott Land and Jordan School District Announce Plans for a Second School at Daybreak
Eastlake Elementary School Planned to Open in 2008
(South Jordan, Utah – March 7, 2007) – Kennecott Land and Jordan School District are pleased to continue their education partnership by announcing a land donation agreement for a new elementary school — the second elementary school to be built in the Daybreak community.
Kennecott Land is donating approximately eight acres of land for Eastlake Elementary School, which will be built in the heart of Daybreak's Eastlake Village (Daybreak's second neighborhood). The school is located within the neighborhood to allow as many children as possible to walk safely to school. "Working with a large landholding like Daybreak enables us to plan and integrate uses to create strong neighborhoods and communities," said Peter McMahon, President, Kennecott Land.
Kennecott Land's generosity represents one of the largest donations ever to Jordan School District. "This donation allows Jordan School District to stretch its limited construction budget and build a much-needed school in the Daybreak development," said Barry Newbold, Jordan School District Superintendent. "We are proud to partner with Kennecott Land."
Kennecott Land has a strong commitment to doing its part to achieve quality education at Daybreak and its future West Bench communities. Cooperative planning with the Jordan School District will help to minimize problems such as overcrowding, costly and time consuming bus transportation and double sessions.
The Kennecott Land proposal has been presented to the Jordan School District Board of Education. The Board is expected to take action on March 13. Construction will begin as soon as possible and the school is planned to open in July 2008. In order to accommodate more students and to maximize the building's efficiency, Eastlake Elementary School will operate on a year-round calendar offering four tracks. The school will be adjacent to a large park that will include sports fields, community playgrounds and a community garden.
"Building a school at Daybreak supports the Board and the public's wishes of building schools within neighborhoods. It's a pleasure to partner with a developer who understands the importance of community schools," says Dr. J. Dale Christensen, President, Jordan School District Board of Education.
Previously, Kennecott Land and Jordan School District teamed up on the development of the integrated Daybreak Elementary School and Community Center. It is the first school in Utah that is both a school and a neighborhood community center. Conceived and developed as a partnership between Jordan School District and Kennecott Land in 2005, the 116,700 square foot facility houses 1,100 students, kindergarten through sixth grade. Parents and families can use the shared community resources for a variety of activities. In 2006, the U.S. Green Building Council awarded Kennecott Land and the Jordan School District the LEED Silver Certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The facility was built using energy efficient ground-source heating and cooling, maximized natural light, water efficiency, drought tolerant landscaping and other green building features.
Daybreak Celebrates the 1,000th Homeowner in Utah's Fastest Selling Community
(South Jordan, Utah — January 18, 2007) — While other housing markets around the country are experiencing a slow-down, Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah, has seen just the opposite. Today, Kennecott Land marks the milestone of the 1,000th homeowner at Daybreak with a red carpet, ice sculpture and red ribbon ceremony welcoming the new owners.
Since the opening of Daybreak 2.5 years ago, Daybreak has become the top selling community in Utah. Daybreak homebuilders acquired 12.5 percent of the single-family housing permits in Salt Lake County, according to the Construction Monitor's 2006 data. Daybreak also has the most housing starts, with 11 percent of total starts, according to Metrostudy's third quarter data. (Fourth quarter data is due out today.) The strong real estate market is said to be associated with the strong job market where job growth in Salt Lake County is 4.4 percent compared to the nation's growth rate of 1.4 percent.
Neil and Janie Clark are the 1,000th homeowners to move into Daybreak — but not the first in their family. About a year and half earlier, their daughter Kim Duffy and her husband Dr. Tim Duffy and three grand children moved into Daybreak. One of their granddaughters, 16-year-old Brittany, was eager to have Grandma and Grandpa move to Daybreak so she took it upon herself to get a listing of available homes and go with them to see each one.
"We moved here from California about a year ago and initially settled in the Cottonwood Heights, area but we spent most of our time at Daybreak with our family," said Janie. "After spending so much time at Daybreak with family and getting to know the other residents, we really liked what we saw and decided to make the move to a Daybreak home." The Clarks are empty-nesters and wanted a rambler with main-floor living but plenty of room to entertain family and friends. So, they chose the Lancaster Home by Destination Homes, one of 20 rambler floor plans offered by all Daybreak builders.
"We had pretty high expectations because we have lived in so many wonderful places on the East and West coasts," said Janie. "I like Eastlake Village and Oquirrh Lake because I'm a surfer and like to be near the water — I'm now going to learn to sail," said Neil. "Your slogan is 'This is getting good' — and it really is!"
"The nearly 3,000 people who have made their home at Daybreak are in effect West Bench pioneers — people who are living Kennecott Land's vision of an enduring community," said Peter McMahon, President, Kennecott Land. "The Daybreak difference is that it is a place, not just a home, where people can live and work and recreate for generations to come. We look forward to welcoming thousands more people into Daybreak and other West Bench communities."
Kennecott Land, the Daybreak Community Association and ten Daybreak home builders are sharing in the success of the community. Daybreak's builders are Bangerter Homes Destination Homes, Gold Medallion Homes, Hamlet Homes, Hearthside Homes, Holmes Homes, Liberty Homes, Rainey Homes, Richmond American Homes and Village Carefree Communities.
USGBC Awards Silver LEED® Rating to Kennecott Land and Jordan School District for the Daybreak Elementary School and Community Center
Recognition acknowledges green building and energy efficiency as part of National Energy Awareness Month
(South Jordan, Utah, October 24, 2006) – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) today awarded Kennecott Land and the Jordan School District a LEED Silver rating for the Daybreak Elementary School and Community Center in South Jordan, Utah. The USGBC's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design® (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ certifies buildings that take preventative measures to lessen their impact on the environment. Such measures include the use of recycled materials, increased use of daylight, reduced water and energy consumption and innovative design.
"Kennecott Land is committed to building in an environmentally sustainable manner. We are pleased to be recognized for preserving resources and reducing energy costs," said Peter McMahon, President, Kennecott Land.
"Daybreak school is consistently one of the most energy-efficient of our 89 schools," said Barry Newbold, Superintendent, Jordan School District. "This speaks volumes about the building's construction because it uniquely operates outside of regular school hours in the evenings and on the weekends." The District average energy cost per square foot is $1.09; Daybreak Elementary School and Community Center uses $.84 per square foot. (Costs reflect an 11-month period.)
Daybreak Elementary School is the first public school in Utah that is both a school and a neighborhood learning and community center. It opened in the fall of 2005. Conceived and developed as a partnership between Jordan School District and Kennecott Land, Daybreak Elementary School and Community Center is a 116,700 square-foot facility that houses students, kindergarten through sixth grade. Parents and families can utilize the community center for a variety of activities, such as group fitness classes, weight lifting, cardio machines and a running track. The building is environmentally efficient with ground-source heating and cooling, an abundance of natural lighting in halls and classrooms, Indoor/outdoor water use was reduced significantly, numerous building materials were made of recycled content and more than half of builder waste was recycled. (Please see building fact sheet.)
Kennecott Land commissioned architects James Christopher and Andrew Ramsey of Brixen and Christopher Architects to design the structure to LEED specification. The building's energy efficiency continues as monthly electrical bills have decreased each month.
"This Silver LEED certification is significant and noteworthy as there are only nine LEED certified buildings in Utah," says Curtis Clark, Utah Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "The green features of the building make it a great place for students to learn and a wonderful facility for Daybreak residents."
Today, Daybreak Elementary School students took part in the announcement with a special award assembly presented by USGBC, the National Energy Foundation and Jordan School District officials. Students learned that they are an important part of saving energy. They learned energy saving tips and how to set up their own Energy Action Patrol.
"Attending a school that is highly energy efficient encourages students to learn, and to strengthen their own commitment to saving energy," says Sunny Dent, Vice President of Program Operations, National Energy Foundation.
