Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

D.C. Elementary School Achieves Double Platinum Certification

  • By Matt Jones
  • 05/07/24

John Lewis Elementary School in Washington, D.C., recently became the first school in the award to be awarded both WELL and LEED certifications at the platinum level, according to a news release. As part of a three-step sustainability approach, the school is also aiming to become the first school in D.C. to achieve Net Zero Energy (NZE). The facility was designed by architecture and design firm Perkins Eastman DC.

The news release reports that the facility was designed to emphasize civic presence, community connectivity, the student experience, and student wellness.

“From the very beginning, the district wanted this project to establish a new benchmark for our ongoing investment in school facilities, with the aim of enhancing community sustainability and resilience—and fostering health and well-being among the students and teachers who use the building every day. Achieving ‘Double Platinum’ at John Lewis Elementary School celebrates the collaborative commitment involved in realizing this inspiring vision that will enable DC’s students and communities to thrive,” said Sean O’Donnell, FAIA, Perkins Eastman DC’s K12 Practice leader.

The WELL Platinum distinction came through the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) WELL Building Standard. The LEED v4 Platinum distinction was awarded in March 2024 via the U.S. Green Buildings Council’s LEED for Building Design and Construction: School rating, according to the news release.

“DC Public Schools is dedicated to providing sustainable learning environments in which the district’s students can thrive,” said Shilpa Khatri, Deputy Chief of DCPS Facilities & School Planning. “In partnership with PEDC and DGS, we are excited that we were able to leverage John Lewis Elementary School’s unique site conditions and new construction opportunities to pilot a robust model of WELL certification, Net Zero design, and LEED certification. Our planning and design experience embodies ‘building as pedagogy,’ truly emphasizing the educational value in facilities and ensuring paths for long-term maintenance and durability,” said Khatri.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • Wenger Names New Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts, Controls

    Wenger Corporation, which provides products and solutions for music and theater education, performing arts and athletic storage, recently announced the hiring of a new Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts and Controls.

  • GeoCam and UCLA: Modernizing Campus Accessibility Mapping

    In early 2025, UCLA partnered with GeoCam to capture and modernize its pedestrian infrastructure data. The goal was ambitious but clear: to produce a high-accuracy, imagery-backed digital map of every sidewalk, pathway, ramp, and ADA-related feature on UCLA’s 419-acre campus.

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.