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

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.

  • concentric silhouettes of a human head

    How Physical Space Shapes the Mind: Designing for Better Learning Outcomes

    Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience increasingly suggests that the way a room is designed can influence memory, focus, or even a student's sense of belonging.

  • Minnesota Middle School Finishes $23.5M Addition and Modernization

    Highland Park Middle School in St. Paul, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $23.5-million addition and remodel project, according to a news release. Saint Paul Public Schools partnered with ATS&R Planners, Architects & Engineers for its design and Kraus-Anderson for its construction.

  • FAU Starts Construction on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

    Florida Atlantic University recently began construction on a new academic building for its campus in Boca Raton, Fla., according to university news. The Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will stand two stories, measure in at 22,000 square feet, and play home to the university’s Holocaust education and Jewish studies programs.

Digital Edition