Bridging the Gap
Similar Differences
When the Episcopal Academy decided it was time to consolidate its lower, middle and upper schools into a single, unified campus, it set out to create a family of buildings related by materials and basic design details, yet distinguished by purpose and architectural style.
Read moreUnder the Lights
Athletic Facilities Take Center Stage in Establishing School Identities
By Amy Perry
Athletic and recreational facilities play an important role in the development of students at all levels of education. Whether they are used for academic programs, extracurricular activities or competitive spaces, gymnasiums and playing fields offer an alternative to indoor curricula and a chance for students to build skills outside the classroom.
Read moreGuided by Green
When planners sat down to design the new Jefferson County Health Center in Fairfield, Iowa, they started with a unique repertoire of tools and direction.
The 115,000 square-foot, $25 million replacement facility for the existing 25-bed acute care hospital needed to make the most of its rural attributes while ascribing to the Green Guide for Health Care — a best practices guide for healthy and sustainable building design, construction and operations.
The Rural Angle
Read moreResidence Hall Receives LEED Gold Certification, Sparks Green Philosophy at Campus
In the fall of 2004, Plymouth State University faced a difficult challenge: There was not have enough on-campus housing to
Read moreNew Sidwell Friends Middle School Certified LEED Platinum
Sustainable design concepts can take hold in a variety of different ways. Some school planners are forced to take a subtle approach, incorporating design techniques that offer the most cost-effective solutions for communities that are still not sold on the legitimacy of the green building. Other planners have the luxury of stretching their arms and grasping new ideas that push the boundaries of what can be done to produce high-performance, sustainable schools.
Read moreLessons Learned
It could be that the essential component in successful sustainable building is simple thoughtfulness. That certainly has been the hallmark in the relationship between the Los Altos School District and San Francisco-based Gelfand Partners Architects – a relationship that has given the district a greened, modernized infrastructure and Gelfand a slew of honors and awards.
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