2013 ACA Winter Conference Archives - School Construction News

Silicon Valley School Integrates Sustainable Modular Classrooms

SAN MARTIN, Calif. — San Martin/Gwinn Elementary School in San Martin, located in California’s Silicon Valley and part of the Morgan Hill Unified School District, recently installed the nation’s first and only prefabricated classroom to be pre-verified by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS). School leaders collaborated with American Modular Systems (AMS) of Manteca, Calif., which installed the school’s first Gen7 CHPS PreFAB classrooms on May 13.

"We’re excited to have Morgan Hill as the pilot project for the CHPS PreFAB program," said Tony Sarich, vice president of operations for AMS and Gen7 Schools, in a statement. "Gen7 CHPS PreFAB streamlines production and delivery, reducing the time, costs and paperwork involved in purchasing healthy, high-performance classrooms.”

Sarich added that the cost-effective modular classrooms can also provide better learning environments for students and substantially decrease a school’s environmental impact.

Designed to be a turnkey sustainable solution for schools, Gen7 CHPS PreFAB modular classrooms have been pre-approved by California’s Division of the State Architect (DSA) and have successfully completed a stringent third-party review to ensure they perform to the highest CHPS specifications, according to a statement by AMS. Qualifying classrooms meet rigorous CHPS criteria for indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, materials, waste management, resource conservation and other sustainable prerequisites. The Gen7 classrooms are also engineered to exceed the 2013 California Title 24 Energy Standards by 40 percent to 70 percent in all climate zones, which can significantly lower a school’s operating costs.

The Morgan Hill CHPS project features two Gen7 modular classroom buildings, designed to accommodate increased enrollment in San Martin/Gwinn’s Dual-Immersion Multicultural Education (DIME) program, which has been extended to include middle school as well as K-6 students. The Gen7 buildings were constructed in the AMS factory in Manteca and will open to students in August.

"We’re delighted to be the first Gen7 CHPS PreFAB classrooms to market and hope that Morgan Hill will inspire other school districts to pursue high-performance classrooms as part of their modernization and expansion programs," said Casino Fajardo, director of construction for Morgan Hill Unified School District, in a statement. "Gen7 PreFABs make it easy and affordable for schools to achieve their sustainability goals, while helping students learn and thrive in a healthier, more environmentally responsible environment."

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La Escuelita Education Center Earns CHPS Verification

OAKLAND, Calif. — La Escuelita Education Center, which opened in fall 2012 in Oakland, recently received the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) verification, California’s highest distinction for sustainable schools. The center is an inner city, mixed-use learning environment, which includes a K-5 elementary school, a program-based high school, a child development center, a studio for KDOL TV Station and a community health clinic.

Designed by locally based SVA Architects, the center received a 56-point rating, making it one of the highest scoring CHPS-verified projects in the state. School Construction News spoke with Christopher Bradley, AIA, CSI, CCCA, architect, associate partner with SVA Architects, about designing the zero net energy campus and how its new technologies create a learning tool for students.

Q: What was the main goal of the project?

Bradley: The main goal was to replace an existing, multi-school campus at the end of its useable life cycle with a new, low-maintenance and highly sustainable campus that would serve as a blueprint for future campuses within the district.

Q: What were some of the key design elements involved in the project?

Bradley: Net zero certainly drove the design; it’s a zero net energy campus. In general, the project was intended to be one of the most environmentally sustainable school projects in all of California. As it stands today, it is the highest scoring CHPS project in California. Dozens of elements needed to come together: photovoltaics, site selection and the cool towers, among many others. These are all “high visibility” technologies. Additionally, the use of the cool towers is a very innovative use of the technology.

Q: What are some of the key technologies involved?

Bradley: The cool towers are perhaps the most innovative and exciting part of the sustainable systems. Each tower has a large scoop orientated toward prevailing winds. On warmer days, the towers capture the outside air and cool it using a low-energy atomizing fog system. The air, heavier with the water, then descends to the bottom of the tower and is drawn into the occupied spaces and circulated using large, 30-foot diameter fans.

Q: How do these technologies advance the idea of 21st century learning?

Bradley: These technologies are very visible, and as such, are part of the curriculum and the students’ day-to-day life at the school. There is an interactive touch-screen dashboard that helps the students monitor energy usage throughout the day. We believe that low energy campuses are the future of school construction. This is a cutting-edge demonstration of what is possible moving forward.

Q: How were the students and staff involved in the project?

Bradley: The community involvement was exceptional. The multilingual process started within the community to inquire what goals and needs they had of the campus. Once the community input was generated, the process then moved to the superintendent and teacher level for their input. All of the input and research was carefully mapped to create a truly leading-edge facility for learning.

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VLK Celebrates Opening of Pope Elementary

HOUSTON — The new Sue Gratehouse Pope Elementary School recently opened to students of Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. The district partnered with Houston-based VLK Architects, a firm specializing in the design of educational facilities, to create this first school for the Bridgeland community.
The school’s innovative design was developed under the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) guidelines, a “leading national movement to improve student performance, and the entire educational experience, by building the best possible schools.” VLK Architects’ design also mirrored Cypress-Fairbanks’ desire to offer an open concept plan incorporating a student-centric learning environment, an area in which VLK has extensive experience.
Pope Elementary is now a model of 21st century education, where students and teachers can enjoy flexible learning environments. The school helps decrease the barrier between indoor and outdoor learning spaces via movable, glass walls and multi-functional classrooms. These areas are conducive to all types of learning, from working within the confines of a wet lab to reading with a small group of students.
VLK oriented the building for lakeside views, and opened the school’s interior with enhanced glass and natural daylight. Additional features supporting both a collaborative and sustainable environment include a building monitoring system, teaching students about exterior/interior conditions and electricity output, as well as an on-site cistern, which collects rainwater for the community garden. A two-story library forms the heart of the school. Its design provides reading lofts for students inside the facility, and takes the collaborative space outside by offering views of the surrounding natural environment.
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Superintendent Dr. Mark Henry places great value in the structure’s barrier-reducing design. “In addition to its inviting appeal, the state-of-the-art design of Pope Elementary School accommodates the modern learning environment that Cypress-Fairbanks ISD offers. The school’s classrooms, library, reading nooks, multipurpose observation deck and many flexible learning spaces were all designed with an intentional focus on hands-on education that will allow our 21st century learners to thrive,” said Henry.
The community of Bridgland’s contributions to the project also enhanced the sense of both unity and support at the new school. “The neighborhood’s commitment to providing…the sidewalks, shrubbery and trees, as well as taking care of the irrigation needed, showcases its ties to the campus. This is truly a community school,” said VLK Principal and Designer Kenneth Hutchens.
VLK’s Principal-in-Charge of the project, Steve Aloway, appreciated the opportunity to once again partner with the district for this project. “Cypress-Fairbanks ISD has been instrumental in incorporating the idea of collaboration into learning systems. Their vision allowed us to provide them a dynamic school that will provide both students and staff excitement for years to come.”
In October, more than 100 people attended the official dedication of Pope Elementary, including the school’s namesake, Sue Gratehouse Pope. A video tribute highlighting Pope’s life, career in education and contributions to the district was also shown. Pope spoke proudly about her years of service and commented on the beauty of the facility. To conclude the dedication, VLK Architects proudly presented her with a framed photograph of the building that bears her name.

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