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SOM completed first net-zero energy school in New York city
United States Architecture News - Feb 17, 2016 - 15:52 12761 views
image courtesy of SOM / © James Ewing | OTTO
The Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability at Sandy Ground is the first net zero energy school in New York City and one of the first of its kind worldwide, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM). The 6.317 m2, two-story school serves 444 pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students. The cutting-edge building harvests as much energy from renewable on-site sources as it uses on an annual basis.
image courtesy of Stark Video Inc. / Aerial New York © SOM
Designed to comply with the SCA Green Schools Guide in lieu of LEED® certification, the project is the NYC School Construction Authority’s first “sustainability lab.” This exploration into ultimate sustainability provides substantial benefits to the City’s School Design Program and help achieve OneNYC goals for significant reductions in global warming emissions. SOM’s design offers an energy- use reduction of 50% over a SCA standard public school.
image courtesy of SOM / © James Ewing | OTTO
SOM optimized the orientation and massing of the courtyard-shaped building to take advantage of sunlight for both ample daylighting and photovoltaic arrays on the roof and south facade. Other sustainable and low-energy features incorporated in the design include an ultra-tight high-performance building envelope, daylit offset corridors, energy-efficient lighting fixtures, low-energy kitchen equipment, a greenhouse and vegetable garden, a geo-exchange system, energy recovery ventilators and demand-control ventilation, and a solar thermal system for hot water.
image courtesy of SOM / © James Ewing | OTTO
“By pushing for higher environmental performance with our design, we have a remarkable opportunity to define a new standard for energy efficient school buildings in New York City and worldwide,” said SOM Design Partner Roger Duffy.
image courtesy of SOM / © James Ewing | OTTO
The gym, cafeteria, library, and administrative offices are adjacent to the main entrance, while all learning spaces are on the north and south sides of the building along a double-height offset corridor. The sizeable corridors promote visibility and facilitate easy circulation throughout the building, as well as bring ample sunlight to both floors of the building. Playgrounds on the north and south sides of the school provide room for outdoor activities.
image courtesy of SOM / © James Ewing | OTTO
Through efficiency studies of the photovoltaic panels, the design team optimized the configuration of Pv panels, consisting of various plane sizes situated at different slopes. The team designed the roof shape and central courtyard after studying sun angles. As the primary energy creator, the photovoltaic panels produce 662,500 kWh of energy to offset the energy consumption of the building and its users. The shape of the building’s roof has been optimized for energy production and also creates an iconic feature that represents a core mission of the project.
image courtesy of SOM / © James Ewing | OTTO
The Kathleen Grimm School provides a learning environment in which the building is an active participant in the educational process. A key educational opportunity exists for students and faculty in managing energy consumption; occupant engagement in the energy saving process is vital to reaching the building’s net zero energy target. Interactive dashboards displayed throughout the building present real-time data on energy usage and production, allowing for immediate feedback on energy choices and healthy competition between classes and grade levels.
image courtesy of SOM / © James Ewing | OTTO
Engaging design continues with signage both outside the Kathleen Grimm School and in its corridors, narrating the building’s numerous sustainability strategies and educating visitors and students about energy conservation. Specific sustainability nodes provide curated educational spaces with seating, as well as a touchscreen monitor connected to the building’s dashboard system for impromptu lessons.
image courtesy of SOM / © James Ewing | OTTO
NYC School Construction Authority President & CEO Lorraine Grillo said, “The late Kathleen Grimm was a dedicated public leader and it is fitting this innovative new school, named in her honor, will lead New York City into achieving Mayor de blasio’s sustainability goals.”
image courtesy of SOM / © James Ewing | OTTO
Site plan. image © SOM
First floor plan. image © SOM
Second floor plan. image © SOM
North south section. image © SOM
East elevation. image © SOM
Daylight section. image © SOM
Sustainability section. image © SOM
Energy data chart. image © SOM
Comparative energy use. image © SOM
Comparative energy use. image © SOM
Project Facts
Client: New York City School Construction Authority on behalf of New York City Department of Education
Location: Staten Island, New York
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
Completion: 2015
Site area: 3.5 acres
Project area: 68,000 square feet
Design Team:
Roger Duffy, FAIA, Design Partner
Anthony Vacchione, AIA, Managing Partner
Christopher McCready, AIA, Managing Director
Austin Harris, AIA, Project Manager
Jon Cicconi, AIA, Senior Design Architect
Carrie Moore, AIA, Senior Technical Coordinator
General contractor: Leon D. DeMatteis Construction Corporation
Sustainability and Net Zero consultant: In:Posse
R&D collaborator: Center for Architecture Science & Ecology
MEP engineering: AKF Group
Structural engineering: Desimone Consulting Engineers, PLLC
Civil & Traffic engineering: Philip Habib & Associates
Geotechnical engineering: Langan Engineering and Environmental Services
Landscape architect: Mark K. Morrison Landscape
Lighting design: Brandston Partnership, Inc.
Graphics and Data visualization: Pentagram
Acoustics/AV/IT & Security: Shen Milsom & Wilke
Theater Design: Harvey Marshall Berling Associates
Code Consultant: Design 2147 Ltd.
Vertical Transportation: Van Deusen & Associates
Cost Estimating: VJ Associates
Food Service: Hopkins Foodservice Specialists, Inc.
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