Perkins Eastman Tops Out Net Zero Energy High-School Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 05/02/23

Architecture firm Perkins Eastman recently participated in a topping out ceremony for the new facility for Alexandria City High School at its Minnie Howard Campus in Alexandria, Va., according to a news release. The facility will have a capacity for 1,600 students and has an expected completion date of 2025. The building’s design is part of the Alexandria City Public Schools’ Connected High School Network (CHSN) initiative, whose goal is to reimagine high-school education and the city’s capacity needs.

“It is an honor to have worked with the school and community of Alexandria to create a design that celebrates ACHS’ legendary Titan culture while providing a new environment that will inspire more active and experiential learning and promote the health and well-being of students, staff, and the entire community,” said Sean O’Donnell, Perkins Eastman Principal, who leads the group’s K–12 practice. “This new building will complement the existing King Street campus to redefine the high-school experience for future generations of Alexandrians and become a central part of Alexandria’s innovative model for a connected high school network.”

According to the news release, the new school will feature amenities like interdisciplinary communities; labs for science, art, and CTE; a library/learning commons area; and administrative and counseling space. CTE spaces will accommodate subjects like “renewable energy, aerospace, cybersecurity, robotics, nursing, pharmacy, and surgical tech.” The school will also include “Creative Commons” dining areas, two gyms, an aquatics facility, an early childhood center, a teen wellness center, and more.

The facility is also on track to achieve Net Zero Energy and LEED Gold Certification, according to the news release, which bears special mention because of the aquatics facility. The news release reports that sustainable and high-performance design strategies include optimized enclosure designed to minimize energy loss; efficient systems thanks to a geothermal wellfield; Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof; low-flow water fixtures; and choice of healthy building materials that minimize the negative impact on the environment.

“The shared vision for this school resulted in a building that will enhance education, enrich Alexandria’s community, and serve as a national model of sustainable, high-performance school design,” said Omar Calderón Santiago, AIA, Design Principal with Perkins Eastman.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at mjones@1105media.com.

Featured

  • Craig Gaulden Davis Architecture Announces Merger with PBK

    Craig Gaulden Davis Architecture (CGD), based in South Carolina and Maryland, recently announced that it has merged with PBK, the largest K–12 architectural firm in the U.S., according to a news release. The firm will operate as Craig Gaulden Davis | PBK with 31 offices across the country.

  • Illinois Elementary School Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion

    Heather Hill Elementary School, part of Flossmoor School District 161 in Palatine, Ill., recently broke ground on a new addition to the school focused on student support and security, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers for the expansion as part of a longer-term facility planning and modernization initiative.

  • Fort Collins to Convert 1980s Office Park into Junior High School

    The Liberty Common School, a charter-public school in Fort Collins, Colo., recently broke ground on an adaptive reuse project that will convert an 1980s-era office park into a 45,000-square-foot junior high school for seventh- and eighth-grade students, according to a news release.

  • Minnesota High School Completes $226M Addition, Renovation Project

    White Bear Lake Area High School – North Campus in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $226-million renovation and addition project, according to a news release. The district partnered with Kraus-Anderson for the project’s construction, which involved creating a single high-school site for the White Bear Lake Area School District.