Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Schneider Electric, School District Partner for Modernization Project

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/18/21

Energy and sustainability solutions company Schneider Electric announced this week that it is partnering with Gulf Shores City Schools in Gulf Shores, Ala., on a system-wide modernization project. The project’s goals are to boost district sustainability and energy efficiency, increase student engagement, and boost opportunities for STEM education. The program is slated to reduce the district’s energy consumption by 33 percent across the next 20 years for a projected savings of about $6.4 million.

“Providing a safe, healthy and enjoyable indoor and outdoor learning environment for our students and teachers is among our top priorities,” said Dr. Matt Akin, Gulf Shores City Schools Superintendent. “We’re thrilled to partner with Schneider Electric to not only make much-needed upgrades to our buildings, but also to do it in an innovative way that boosts critically important STEM learning while saving us money for future improvements.”

According to a press release, improvements to district facilities include:

  • New HVAC systems
  • New, more sustainable water systems to reduce energy & water consumption
  • Roof replacement at the district’s high school
  • A new centralized building automation system at each school in the district
  • Interior and exterior LED lighting upgrades
  • Solar skylights to increase daylighting
  • A Voiceover IP (VoIP) phone system to decrease emergency response times

The project also includes the construction of interactive learning areas in all three of the district’s schools. These include a renewable energy generation area with interactive dashboards displaying real-time data about energy production and usage; a system of SmartFlower solar arrays; the installation of solar-powered trees; other solar-powered technology like solar benches and charging stations; and a variety of teaching exhibits.

The modernization work will be paid for in part by federal funds provided by the American Rescue Plan.

“We are proud to partner with Gulf Shores City Schools on innovative solutions that provide a health, safe and sustainable learning environment,” said Tammy Fulop, Vice President of Schneider Electric. “As districts struggle to do more with less, we are excited to help GSCS become a leading example of how to address top priorities and create a state-of-the-art campus while saving money for future upgrades.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • Harvard Announces Replacement Facility for Native American Program

    Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction will begin this spring on a new home for its Native American Program, according to university news. The 6,500-square-foot, all-electric building will stand three stories and serve as the central hub for the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP).

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.