Case Study: South Warren Middle and High School, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Photo courtesy of Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects

At the time of construction, South Warren was the largest K–12 school building in the state of Kentucky. Comprising 332,000 square feet, the building sits on an 85-acre site. Goals of the project included energy efficiency, speed of construction, student safety, and green design principles. The design team identified targets for potential energy reduction, such as a super-insulated roof system, an optimized geothermal HVAC system, and daylight harvesting. But in terms of a critical path for these decisions, which also included safety, the building envelope was determined to be most important.

Subsequently, this was the first educational project anywhere to utilize insulated concrete form (ICF) construction for the entire structural wall system of the building, including both exterior and interior bearing walls. Construction spanned the winter without delay. ICFs allowed the concrete to be protected and insulated when placed, permitting continuity of the construction schedule. Even with a gymnasium with 40-foot-tall ICF walls, two “cafetoriums” with 35-foot-tall walls, and a performing arts center with a compound curve, the 8-inch and 12-inch ICF wall system provides students a safer building even during severe tornadic activity, which is common during Kentucky’s spring and summer seasons. The inherent core strength of the concrete in the ICF wall system, coupled with the hollow core concrete plank floor system, created a building structure capable of resisting 250 mile per hour winds. By combining all sustainable elements, South Warren is zero-energy ready operating at only 24.3 kBtu/ft² EUI, which equates to a 70 percent reduction in energy use compared to the average school in Climate Zone 4. Additionally, it was calculated that the ICF construction costs less per square foot than traditional masonry and steel framing.

Case Study: Glasgow High School, Glasgow, Kentucky

Photo courtesy of Sherman Carter Barnhart

Glasgow High School is a 180,000-square-foot building with many sustainable elements. When the footers were poured in April 2011 until the school opened in August 2012, the project was constructed on schedule despite the seemingly constant rain. The project team met the challenge to achieve a timeless aesthetic with balancing modern energy efficiency. Technologies such as rigid roof insulation, a white TPO single-ply roof system to reduce solar heat gain, and solar tubes were installed in corridors and interior classrooms. Bringing daylighting into these spaces was a major design consideration and was balanced with sensors that adjust the artificial lighting based on both the amount of natural daylight and occupancy needs. Building with 31,000 square feet of of 8-inch and 12-inch insulated concrete forms (ICFs) was also a key factor to meet energy and design goals, especially since windows were large and plentiful including a 52-foot radius wall having numerous arched openings and windows 30 feet high. All combined, the building earned LEED certification, with a level of craftsmanship that pleased the owner. Total construction was 420 days, with 70 days devoted to ICF installation and concrete placing. Installation was shared between two different installers due to the project schedule, indicating the ease of installation and workflow of ICF systems.

Case Study: Discovery Elementary School, Arlington, Virginia

Photo: Alan Karchmer

Discovery Elementary School opened in 2015 and was the first elementary school building to be built in the local public school system in more than a decade. The design utilized every nook and cranny of the school to integrate design, sustainability, and learning, and served as a catalyst for future zero-energy design requirements in the district. It promotes student engagement and environmental stewardship, while advancing the municipality’s carbon and energy goals. Upon opening, the school was the first zero-energy school in the mid-Atlantic. With a floor plan of 97,588 square feet, the 2-story school was built using 3,000 linear feet of insulated concrete form (ICF) bearing wall. To meet energy goals, sustainable building elements comprised of 1,706 roof-mounted solar panels, a geothermal well field, solar preheat of domestic water, 100 percent LED lighting, and ICF exterior walls. Actual EUI is approximately 16 kBtu/ft², which is 76 percent lower than the national school average for Climate Zone 4. With the photovoltaic array, the school is net-positive energy—producing more power than it uses. An energy dashboard is on display for teacher curriculum and student projects. The school was named a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School and is a recipient of various design accolades, including the AIA COTE Award and A4LE National Award. The project was completed under budget, returning millions of dollars to the district to fund other projects, and it annually saves more than $100,000 per year in utility costs—therefore directing funds to academic needs.