Sited on an intermediate height plinth on the edge of a major creek’s flood plain, the building addresses storm water runoff and flooding concerns: Storm water is both captured and delayed by a combination of rain garden and a 3,400 gallon cistern. The rain water is saved from two sources: the sloped gym roof and condensate from the HVAC system and used for irrigation of the planted ‘rain garden’ area. In response to flooding concerns, the building is elevated on a three foot tall plinth, expressed as a continuous set of steps along the northern edge.
After five decades of building inwardly focused buildings with both limited openness and connection to their surroundings, the School desired a more extroverted and transparent building for its new facility, expressing the School’s missions of community service and respect for the environment as part of its development of a well-rounded student.
To fulfill the promise of creating a new-century learning environment that prepares students for a changing world, the design team crafted learning spaces that promote collaboration while supporting a variety of learning styles.
The resulting project is the complete renovation of the existing three-story, 80,000-SF academic building and the construction of the new Ivy Street Center, a three-story, 55,000-SF, eco-friendly, truly multidisciplinary facility.
Beyond the building, features include a more walkable campus inviting foot traffic, outdoor breakout spaces, a rain garden clearly emphasizing sustainability, and entryways that also encourage collaboration while providing display for learning-focused exhibits.
There has been a significant savings on electrical bills because of the ability for the classroom lights to remain “off” the majority of the time.
Sustainable materials used include reclaimed elm wall panels.
3,400 gallons of water are recycled from rainwater and the HVAC system.