Green Field Notes
Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM
Sustainable-design principles put into action in today's education institutions.
Phelps Architecture, Construction and Engineering High School — Washington, D.C.
Architect: Fanning Howey
When planning this facility, what considerations were given to green products and processes?
LEED certification was a goal from the very beginning of the project. Sustainable elements were incorporated into the design, and sustainable practices ruled the design/build process. Waste was controlled by combining renovation with new construction, reducing the total amount of construction waste generation by more than 60 percent. Salvageable materials entered the recycling stream, reducing the need for new materials. The original building was restored, including woodwork, slate and terrazzo floors.
What are some unique green aspects of the facility?
Phelps will be one of the first LEED for Schools projects in the Mid-Atlantic. The building uses a rainwater cistern system to support the horticulture/landscape skills educational laboratory program and eliminate the need to use potable water for irrigation and in the greenhouse. Helical wind turbines reduce the school's dependency on fossil fuels. Photovoltaic panels double as architecture cladding elements, reducing overall system costs. A geothermal water loop under the sports field transfers heat from the building to the ground in the summer, and extracts heat from the ground to warm the building in the winter.
Community response
Sustainable elements utilized throughout Phelps High School were designed to enhance the curriculum. The HVAC lab features three alternative heating source units, which serve as practical maintenance trainers. Energy-efficient features serve as demonstration elements, enabling students to monitor energy output from the Earth, sun and wind. This "building as a teaching tool" approach teaches students and the community about the importance and benefits of this type of environmental responsibility. "We are not just teaching young people a trade," says Mayor Adrian Fenty. "We will teach them to learn, work and appreciate green-collar jobs."
- Return to the 2009 Architectural Portfolio's Green Field Notes main page to view more projects where sustainable-design principles were used in today's educational institutions.
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