AESHS - East Building Addition

The result of a comprehensive master plan, this high school academic addition achieves three main goals. It functionally houses an expanding student population; it accommodates students and instructors in a way that encourages the development of social-based learning skills and behaviors; and, by attaining net zero status, it enhances the District’s commitment to modeling and teaching good environmental stewardship.

Multiple building elements contribute to this new facility’s critical role as an active teaching tool.

The major design components, including the living wall, ventilation system, lighting system, and interior layout, provide a thoughtful, integrated solution. A high level of integrated design was possible because the architecture, interior design, MEP engineering, energy modeling, and structural design services were all performed in-house by a single firm.

The addition accommodates multiple programs with a strong emphasis on Science and World Languages. To exceed the standards of a robust, ever-changing curriculum, non-traditional learning environments were designed to co-mingle social interaction, spontaneous and formal instruction, and immersive, experiential learning.

The roof hosts green roof areas, food production gardens, and a greenhouse. Native and adapted vegetation is used for all landscaped areas, including the courtyard. Views to the courtyard or landscaped vegetation are possible from nearly every interior space. The living walls encourage student engagement inside while the courtyard supports student wellness and features a classroom for outside learning.

The building treads lightly on the natural environment and the team went to great lengths to replicate natural systems. Special attention was paid to dark sky requirements, including light trespass, uplighting, and timers to shut off or dim lighting at night. As part of the site evaluation and potential impacts of the project, internal acoustics were assessed, and the building’s sound shed was analyzed to minimize impact to neighbors and wildlife.

The project supports water conservation and maximizing rainwater management on-site via natural landscaping, green roof and roof garden areas, and a central courtyard.  Iterative energy and daylight models ensured zero energy goals were being met and supported the reduction of total energy consumption in the facility. To better meet the needs of students and the two green wall systems, modeling was used to optimize access to daylight, inform exterior fin design, and reduce the demand for interior lighting.

https://www.wightco.com/insights/adlai-e-stevenson-high-school-east-building-addition-awarded-prestigious-zero-energy-certification/

https://www.wightco.com/insights/three-innovative-projects-first-to-achieve-living-architecture-performance-tool-certification/

https://www.wightco.com/insights/sustainable_design/