Although a relatively small commission for a firm like SOM, the Fairfield School requires the coordination of disciplines, such as environmental specialists, whose use in the United States is in the early stages. The internal resources of a large firm are helpful in a design with such strong environmental specialization, especially in the approval process when the local government may not be familiar with new, sustainable practices. Construction of projects like these are the strongest signs of progress towards a change in attitude at all levels, from the children at the school to all the people who help the school get built. Burr Elementary School in Fairfield, Connecticut by SOM 2002.11.25