St. Martin’s Episcopal School has unveiled its new middle school facility. The 2012-13 school year got underway last week, with the 42,000-square-foot edifice garnering its fare share of attention.

Administrators are calling the building a significant upgrade from its predecessor.

“It’s fantastic,” said St. Martin’s Headmaster, Rev. James Hamner. “Everyone is very excited about the new and renovated facilities … teachers, parents and students.”

In addition to more space — wider hallways and lockers are 40 percent larger — the building boasts state-of-the-art classrooms infused with Wi-Fi and Smartboard technology.

Moreover, the building is wired for all possible future technological uses, including a possible one-to-one iPad program, Principal Skeeter Lee said.

A pair of cutting edge science labs, one of them with a learning garden, is also operational. Band, drama and meeting rooms round out St. Martin’s middle schoolers’ new digs.

“The atmosphere of the new building will contribute to the students feeling like they are more adult,” Lee said.

“The hallways and classrooms are carpeted so there is a quiet, studious feeling during the school day. The teachers will continue to challenge our students with a deep, engaging curriculum that stretches without overwhelming.”

St. Martin’s middle school student body numbers 196 — the “ideal” size, Hamner said.

“Using the technology in every classroom, teachers are planning a variety of new ways to teach and enhance student learning,” he said. “The entire building is constructed to meet LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] silver certification, so it is a living lab itself which our students can daily participate in.”

St. Martin’s new space is part of a school-wide makeover.

Eight spaces on the existing campus have been renovated, including the school library, cafeteria, computer lab and science labs, Hamner said.