Waltham-based CTA Construction recently cut the ribbon on a new $20 million, 78,000-square-foot "model" elementary school in Fairhaven.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority’s Model School Program adapts and re-uses designs of successful, recently constructed schools. Model schools are efficient and easy to maintain, contain optimal learning spaces, can accommodate different enrollments and incorporate sustainable features.

Fairhaven’s new Leroy L. Wood Elementary School, built within 14 months, is located at the site of the former Wood Elementary School, which was demolished prior to the start of construction. The new building for pre-K through fifth grade includes a library, full-sized cafeteria and kitchen and gymnasium. It also has specialty classrooms such as music rooms with instrument storage and a computer classroom.

The energy-efficient school utilizes skylights and classroom windows, and the artificial lighting is designed to dim automatically when there is sufficient daylight. The building participates in the Massachusetts Collaborative for High Performance Schools (MA-CHPS) and is the most economically constructed new school in Massachusetts since 2004, according to a press release.

The project architect is HMFH Architects Inc. and the owner’s project manager is Daedalus Projects Inc.