Sustainability


The Thacher School walk through area with study nook

Opening the Doors to Evidence-Based Design In Ojai, California

In 2021, the Thacher School, located in Ojai, Calif., opened the doors to its project-based learning hub. The space was designed to support a multidisciplinary learning environment with collaborative common areas and classrooms that provide greater flexibility in their use.

School Bus

How School Districts Can Use Unprecedented Federal Funding to Transition to Electric Buses

Amid economic concerns like rising gas prices and inflation impacting American communities and resources, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is bringing a bright spot to school districts across the country. The agency recently announced a new $5 billion fund, available immediately, to purchase clean school bus fleets and lessen reliance on diesel fuel.

Los Angeles District Awards $400M Student Transportation Contract

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recently announced that it has awarded a $400-million transportation contract with student transportation company Zum.

Serge Ferrari Group Debuts Building Skin for Interiors

Serge Ferrari Group, a manufacturer of flexible composite membranes, recently launched a lightweight and durable building skin intended for indoor spaces.

Indiana High School Installs Solar Farm

Shakamak High School in Jasonville, Ind., recently installed a solar farm that is projected to save the school more than $1 million across the next 12 years, according to local news.

Zum Debuts Electric School Buses in Two Calif. Districts

Modern student transportation solutions company Zum announced recently that it has deployed its first batch of electric school buses. The six LionC electric school buses, manufactured by Lion Electric, are already serving students in the San Francisco Unified School District and the Oakland Unified School District, according to a press release.

Howard University to Develop Five-Year Sustainability Plan

Howard University in Washington, D.C., recently announced that it will be partnering with VEIC and CustomerFirst Renewables to develop a five-year campus Sustainability Plan.

Georgia Tech Energy Infrastructure Upgrade

Energy Infrastructure Upgrade to Save Georgia Tech $11.7M

Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Ga., recently partnered with facility energy solutions provider ABM Industries to upgrade campus STEM labs—and save about $11.7 million across ten years in the process.

University of Pittsburgh to Build New Recreation Center

Construction on a new Campus Recreation and Wellness Center at the University of Pittsburgh is underway. The project is part of a wider Campus Master Plan that was finalized in 2019 and will provide amenities like a recreational pool, jogging track, basketball courts, weightlifting equipment and more.

GreenPower Unveils Plan to Manufacture All Electric School Buses in West Virginia

Electric vehicle manufacturer GreenPower Motor Company signed an agreement last week with the state of West Virginia to begin producing zero-emission, all-electric school buses in a new manufacturing facility,

Ecore, Spartan Surfaces Relaunch Popular Flooring Line

Ecore, a company that converts reclaimed materials into a variety of performances surfaces, announced this week that it is partnering with flooring sales and marketing company Spartan Surfaces to relaunch its popular ECOsurfaces product line.

U Alabama Trying Out Solar-Powered Pods

Shortly, the campus of the University of Alabama will sport a set of small, greenhouse-like structures where students can have private, socially-distanced space for their studies or relaxation.

LPA new middle school in Northeast Austin

LPA Reveals Design for Austin-Area Middle School

LPA recently released the design for a new middle school in the Austin Independent School District (AISD) in Austin, Texas. The school will serve the northeast part of the city including Mueller, a new urbanist development built on the grounds of the city’s former airport.

Winona State University Begins $12.3M Sustainability Project

Winona State University in Winona, Minn., announced this week that it is partnering with construction and energy services firm McKinstry for a $12.3-million sustainability and solar energy project.

Tulane University School of Architecture

Tulane School of Architecture Primed for Major Makeover

The 113-year-old building housing the Tulane University School of Architecture will have its façades, structure, stairs and interior spaces restored over the next two years. The work on Richardson Memorial Hall, originally built in 1908, will begin in early spring 2022, with a goal of reopening in fall 2023.

Schneider, S.C. District Partner to Push Net Zero Energy Initiative

Schneider Electric recently announced that it is partnering with the Richland County School District One (Richland One) in Columbia, S.C., to help the district meet its goal of Net Zero energy consumption.

Honeywell Cambrian College Energy Agreement

Cambrian College to Save $480K in Energy-Related Upgrades

Ontario-based Cambrian College is moving into the next phase of a long-term agreement with Honeywell and Honeywell Building Technologies to replace aging equipment and update lighting in pursuit of energy savings. The improvements are expected to save the college at least $480,000 within the first year.

Del Norte K-12 exterior

Del Norte K-12

Project of Distinction Award 2021 Education Design Showcase

Meeker High School exterior

Meeker High School Addition and Renovation

Project of Distinction Award 2021 Education Design Showcase

Santa Monica College exterior

Santa Monica College Student Services Building

Project of Distinction Award 2021 Education Design Showcase

Irma Marsh Middle School exterior

Irma Marsh Middle School

Project of Distinction Award 2021 Education Design Showcase

Kreher Agriculture Center exterior

Kreher Agriculture Center

Grand Prize 2021 Education Design Showcase

Buena Vista Middle/High School exterior

Buena Vista Middle/High School

Project of Distinction Award 2021 Education Design Showcase

Hillside Middle School exterior

Hillside Middle School

Project of Distinction Award 2021 Education Design Showcase

Discovery High School exterior

Discovery High School

Grand Prize 2021 Education Design Showcase

Mohawk Joins Climate Pledge

Commercial flooring manufacturer Mohawk Group has joined the Climate Pledge, an effort launched by Amazon and Global Optimism with the aim of accelerating climate action above and beyond the goals set out in the Paris Agreement.

Washington, D.C., Debuts Two Net-Zero-Energy Schools

Design firm Perkins Eastman recently announced the opening of the first two net-zero-energy schools in Washington, D.C. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies for both schools—Banneker Academic High School and West/John Lewis Elementary School—took place in the last week of August.

Study Reveals Americans’ Understanding of Importance of Natural Light

A study from earlier this year has revealed that the majority of Americans are aware of the benefits that natural light can have on their physical, mental, and psychological health. However, the same study also showed that nearly half of Americans ages 18 and older spend between 12 and 23 hours a day indoors, while government research suggests that most Americans spend up to 93% of their lives inside.

CSU Pueblo Announces Net-Zero Efficiency with Completion of Solar Array

Colorado State University Pueblo in Pueblo, Colo., recently announced that it has become the first university in the state to achieve net-zero efficiency.

John Quincy Upper School Rendering

HMFH Architects Unveils Design for Boston High-Rise Public School

The city of Boston, Mass., will soon be getting a new public school. HMFH Architects announced this week that it is putting finishing touches on the design for Josiah Quincy Upper School (JQUS), which will stand in a one-acre lot in the city’s “dense and diverse Chinatown neighborhood,” according to a news release.

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