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Sustainability

• Site
  The school site is characterized by second-growth forest, steep grade changes from east to west, extraordinary views of Elliot Bay, and neighboring wetlands. With surrounding old growth stands giving way to rapid residential development, the client and project team focused on preserving the site’s natural integrity by creating a school that promotes stewardship of its surroundings. Preserving wetlands, old growth trees and forest understory was paramount to the siting of the school. Befitting its SLC educational model, composing the school as a campus of distinct multi-story structures reduced the total building footprint for minimal site impact. Connected by boardwalks, the buildings nestle into the preserved landscape and sloping topography, while their orientation maximizes daylighting. Outdoor spaces, including outdoor an amphitheater, decks, and viewing platforms provide endless learning opportunities where students, staff, and visitors engage in social, professional, and educational interactions.
• Energy
  In addition to embracing the preservation of the natural site and maximizing natural daylighting with careful building orientation and high efficiency glass, this project integrates other significant energy reduction and efficiencies systems. Rather than using a mechanical cooling system, a sustainable approach of operable widows and shading by the forest canopy is used to cool buildings. Occupancy sensors and dimmable lights are installed in classrooms and offices. All air handling units are set to economizer cycles and hot water tanks are minimized.  A high-efficiency HVAC system was selected to exceed local energy code requirements by more than 20%.
• Materials
  As with every school project, the design team focused intently on durability and ease of maintenance, choosing roofing and carpeting products with significant 20-to-30 year warranties. Polished concrete flooring was employed in high traffic areas and ceiling materials were minimized through design choices to expose ducts and ceiling structure. The insulated window units are regionally fabricated and local materials and manufacturers sourced. Careful to preserve as many trees and forest understory as possible, the root-balls of the few trees logged were given to a county program and used to build up fish habitats in local rivers.  The use of native, drought tolerant species in the landscape eliminated the need for irrigation. Much of the wood and brush was chipped on-site for mulch.
• Water
  Storm water runoff is significantly reduced by thoughtful design elements and the use of pervious materials. Wood mulch and crushed stone paths wind through campus and follow the natural contours of the landscape. Wooden ramps span steep grade changes and boggy areas, with pin foundations mitigating site disturbance. Water permeable grid paving products are used in other hardscape elements, while parking lot sizes are reduced to minimize paving and encourage the use of public transportation and ride sharing. In addition to the inclusion of rain gardens in the parking lots, two school campus buildings return roof water run-off to the surrounding wetlands rather than the storm water systems. Buildings feature dual-flush toilets in staff restrooms.
• Indoor Environmental Quality
  The design creates an interior experience that connects students, staff, and visitors to each other, and also to the verdant, natural surroundings. Each school building is designed without a corridor; learning areas are planned instead around commons and living room spaces. Unimpeded by walls, light penetrates the interior through many large windows, while views of the outside from within are equally uninterrupted. Sunshades minimize glare through operable windows. In classrooms, offices, and labs, dimmable lights and task lighting allow users to adjust light intensity. The use of low-emitting materials maintains healthy air quality, while carbon dioxide sensors in classrooms provide staff a reliable means of gauging room stuffiness. The buildings each satisfy Washington Sustainable Schools Protocol acoustical requirements, using acoustic gypsum board ceilings and walls to deftly muffle the ever- present ambient sound within an inspired, vibrant high school.