High Performance Schools:

Poquoson Elementary School

A Regional and International Perspective

Presented by:

Robert Winstead, AIA, LEEDapDirector of Sustainable DesignVMDO Architects, PC

Bob Crowell, P.E.Vice President2rw Consultants, Inc.

April 24, 2006

Poquosin (pa-koe’-sin) Algonquain, n – Swamp on a hillChesapeake Bay

Plum Tree IslandNational Wildlife Refuge

Back River

Poquoson River

“Poquosins store groundwater in deep peat, preventing rapid runoff and erosion, then filtering and cleaning the water before its decent into swamps and eventual return to the ocean. Poquosins also catch and store botanical detritus. Dead vegetative matter forms lush nurseries for infant fish that, like filtered water, ultimately descend to faster-moving vessels in the hydraulic circuit. Much of the once-alive detritus dissolves into carbon, however, and carbon, combined with hydrogen, oxygen, and other elements, creates life anew in many forms.”

Poquosin (pa-koe’-sin) Algonquain, n – Swamp on a hill

Hurricane Isabel - 2004

Poquoson City Public Schools

Programming - Lead TeamArchitecture as Pedagogy

As commonly practiced, education has little to do with its specific setting or locality. The typical campus is regarded mostly as a place were learning occurs, but is, itself, believed to be the source of no useful learning. It is intended, rather, to be convenient, efficient, or aesthetically pleasing, but not instructive. It neither requires nor facilitates competence or mindfulness. By that standard, the same education could happen as well in California or in Kazakhstan, or on Mars, for that matter.

The curriculum embedded in any building instructs as fully and as effectively as any course taught in it.

The same could be said of the buildings.... Their design is thought to have little or nothing to do with the process of learning or the quality of scholarship that occurs in a particular place, when in fact buildings and landscape reflect a hidden curriculum that powerfully influences the learning process.

How do our buildings shape us?

Poquoson City Public Schools

Programming - Precedents

Seabird CommunitySchoolAgassiz, British Columbia

Strawberry Vale Elementary SchoolVictoria, British Columbia

CBF’s Phillip Merril Center for Environmental StudiesAnnapolis, Maryland

IslandWood SchoolBainbridge Island, Washington

Lewis Center for Environmental StudiesOberlin College, Ohio

Poquoson City Public Schools

Programming – Site Visits

Poquoson City Public Schools

Programming – Project Themes

landwater

“In the beginning there was a river. The river became a road and the road branched out to the whole world.”

Ben Okri, The Famished Road

the natural environment

transitions

“To care for the environment, you must love it. To love it, you must know it. To know it, you must experience it.”

1. Grades 3, 4, and 5 (future 6th)

2. 225 students per grade = 675 students (900 future)

3. plus core facilities for 225 additional students

4. +/- 85,000 GSF

5. Opening Spring/Summer 2008

Poquoson City Public Schools

Project Stats

Poquoson Elementary School

Third grade Athletics Miscellaneousclassrooms 10 800 8000 gymnasium 1 7000 7000 cafeteria 1 5600 5600resource 1 425 425 PE office 1 150 150 kitchen/serv. 1 1500 1500computer lab 1 625 625 PE storage 1 600 600 freezer 1 200 200teachers 0.5 625 312.5 PR office 1 150 150 recycling 1 250 250large group 1 1000 1000 PR storage 1 150 150 lobby 1 1200 1200storage 2 200 400 8050 head-end 1 300 300

10763 Auxiliary 9050Fourth grade music 2 1000 2000

classrooms 10 800 8000 office 1 200 200 SF 61087.5resource 1 425 425 storage 1 200 200computer lab 1 625 625 art 2 1000 2000 Infrastructureteachers 0.5 625 312.5 office 1 200 200 halls, walls, etc. 24435large group 1 1000 1000 storage 1 200 200storage 2 200 400 kiln 1 100 100

10763 4900 Total SF 85522.5Fifth grade Administration

classrooms 10 800 8000 reception 1 600 600resource 1 425 425 principal 1 225 225computer lab 1 625 625 asst. principal 2 150 300teachers 0.5 625 312.5 accounting 1 150 150large group 1 1000 1000 records 1 150 150storage 2 200 400 work room 1 300 300

10763 itenarant 2 100 200Media clinic 1 300 300

library 1 3000 3000 conference 1 300 300work room 1 225 225 2525office 1 150 150 Guidancestorage 1 300 300 office 2 150 300storage - a/v 1 150 150 testing 1 150 150

3825 450

Poquoson City Public Schools

Educational /Space Program

Poquoson City Public Schools

LEED Advocate Committee

Currently registered under LEED v.2.1

Currently pursuing 52 credits = Platinum rating

Applied for two $100,000 grants with VA DCR

Site Analysis

Educational Concepts - SiteProcession to the water

Wetland Lab

Nesting Stands

Educational Signage

Outdoor Classrooms

Sundial/Model of the Solar System

Educational Playgrounds

Educational Concepts - Grade “House”Community Identity (watershed)

Fat “L” classrooms

Break-out areas

Flexible resource/project rooms

Grade specific storage

Dedicated service clusters

Educational Concepts - BuildingSeparation of Public/Private Program

Inside/Outside

Increased Independence with Age

Stormwater/Wetlands

• Net decrease in impervious area

• Restore existing landfill to wetlands

• Impact 0.16 acres of wetlands (roadside ditch)

• Construct 1.6 acres of wetlands (tenfold increase)

Building Orientation/Envelope

Daylighting/Views/Ventilation

Mechanical Systems

Waterless Urinals

• First cost savings

• 9 fixtures x $500/fixture = $4,500

• Operational savings

• 130,500 gal. X $6.76/1000 gal. = $882.18/year

• ($75- $20) / fixture X 9 fixtures = $495.00/year

• Educational

• priceless

$4,500

$1,400 / year

350 male occupants X 2 uses per day X 180 school days per year X 1 gallon per flush = 130,500 gallons per year

Water Harvesting

Poquoson City Public Schools

Lessons Learned

1. Good design takes time (more time than money)

2. Start early (before you pick up a pencil)

3. Identify a champion(s)

4. Become the experts – or get them on your team!

5. Collaborate, Communicate, Coordinate!

6. Keep it real – it’s about education!