This project is a one-story, 60,000 sf elementary school located in North Liberty, Iowa. The design of the school demonstrates the utmost commitment to sustainable design and provides high quality diffuse daylighting in every classroom. Successful integration of dimming daylighting controls ensures energy savings of the highest order.

Completed in August 2005, the school achieved LEED Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2006. The energy outcomes are 55% better than Iowa code and 49% better than ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1999. The project achieves 8 out of 10 possible points in the LEED Energy & Atmosphere category alone.

Key Strategies

• Low-E clear glazing in thermally broken aluminum frame
• R-30 roof insulation; R-20 wall insulation
• Occupancy sensor control of lighting in various spaces
• Dual-level lighting switching in gymnasium
• Automatic dimming daylighting controls in classrooms, media center and cafeteria
• Direct/indirect lighting systems with Standard T8 lamps
• Classrooms 0.76 w/sf
• Offices 1.62 w/sf
• Media center 1.10 w/sf
• Cafeteria 1.28 w/sf
• Gym 1.05 w/sf
• Media center 1.10 w/sf
• Corridors 0.82 w/sf
• Ground coupled heat pump system at 18.2 EER and 3.7 COP
• Variable frequency drive on hydronic loop pump
• Total energy recovery system at 67% sensible, 57% latent and 90% exhaust to intake ratio