EXTECH Provides Skylight System to Calif. Middle School

EXTECH/Exterior Technologies, Inc. has provided skylight systems for the new Spring Hill School middle school campus in Sonoma County, Petaluma, Calif. The campus opened its doors to students for the first time for the 2019-20 school year. The middle school was designed by DMARC Studio, constructed by Advanced Building Solutions, and offers a variety of indoor and outdoor learning spaces for up to 120 students.

The building features a learning center / conference room, idea lab, math center, makerspace studio including a 3D printer, and indoor and outdoor learning classrooms. A covered walkway featuring EXTECH’s skylight system connects the outdoor learning spaces, providing daylight and ventilation to students. The SKYGARD 2500 Series skylight system covers an area about 168 feet long by 6 feet wide at a consistent slope of 1:12 across the entire span.

EXTECH skylight system
Photo by Kaplan Photo, courtesy of EXTECH

Each of its 55 panels come in a variety of sizes and are made of laminated glass more than half an inch thick and framed with anodized aluminum. The aluminum is made of recycled materials.

“Our skylights not only support sustainable daylight designs, but also provide a cost-effective choice for fabrication, installation and maintenance,” said EXTECH general manager Jim Leslie. “Backed with a 10-year warranty, our skylight system continues to add value for school districts, building owners and facility managers for years to come.”

The Spring Hill School opened in 1975 to offer a Montessori-based education to students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. The new middle school campus expands those opportunities through eighth grade. The program includes a distinct focus on humanities, science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). This educational style and STEAM focus influenced the inclusion of nontraditional learning spaces to increase flexibility and student health and offer an aesthetic touch.

“This challenge was approached by utilizing a unique structural system that not only provides flexibility for the instructional spaces within the building, but also provides a design aesthetic inspired by the STEAM curriculum when exposed,” said DMARC. “The classrooms’ connection to the outdoors provides unique educational spaces for the students and maximizes usable space.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • ClassVR headsets

    Avantis Education Revamps Hardware for ClassVR Solution

    Avantis Education recently announced the launch of two new headsets for its flagship educational VR/AR solution, ClassVR. According to a news release, the Xcelerate and Xplorer headsets expand the company’s offerings into higher education while continuing to meet the evolving needs of K–12 users.

  • Fellowes Launches New 3D Modular, Product Configurators

    Contract interiors and architectural solutions provider Fellowes recently announced the launch of new 3D modular and product configurators for several of its product lines, according to a news release. The new products offer SIF file integration and pricing for the Volo, Markerboards, Sena, and Rising product lines in connection with 3D Cloud, which provides 3D product visualization and 3D digital asset management.

  • DLR Group Hires Higher Education Business Development Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that Senior Associate Megan Todd will serve as its new Higher Education Business Development Leader, according to a news release. Her responsibilities will include building the firm’s reach and client relationships in the California higher education sector, based out of San Diego.

  • ClassVR Wins Tech & Learning Best of Show at ISTELive 25

    Avantis Education recently announced that its flagship product, ClassVR, won the Tech & Learning Best of Show Award at ISTELive 25 in San Antonio, Texas, according to a news release. The program is designed to celebrate products that are “transforming education in schools around the world and that show the greatest promise for the industry,” and this is the fourth consecutive year that Avantis has claimed the award.

Digital Edition