Figure 13: West Elementary School utilizing horizontal ribbon windows across the façade.

Images courtesy of Pella Corporation

About 15 miles southwest of Billings, in Laurel, MT, is West Elementary School. It sits beside a playground on 15 grassy acres and accommodates 350 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Built in 1956, with an addition in 1979, West Elementary School's original aluminum windows served as more of a hindrance than a help in the learning process for both teachers and students and were long overdue for replacement. Noise from the playground distracted the students. Teachers had no control over temperature; it was always either too hot or too cold. The school has no air conditioning, and attempting to open the non-screened single-pane windows for improved airflow resulted in bugs flying in-including bees that would sting the children. During winter, when average outside temperatures range from 15 to 43 degrees, the extremely drafty old windows cost the school extra money on heating bills. The administration for West Elementary School was looking for a functional window that was durable, energy-efficient and low-maintenance.

Roger Heimbigner, business manager for the Laurel School District, was concerned about the budget constraints of a publicly funded building. The project team collaborated to select fiberglass double-hung windows for the school in response to the many needs and criteria imposed on them. The team found the fiberglass windows to be uniquely functional, durable and affordable. Plus, they never need to be painted, so there are no finishing or maintenance costs. Low-E insulating glass improves insulating value, reduces heat gain and offers protection from UV rays, making the windows extremely energy-efficient. The aesthetic goal was to achieve a look that went well with the building construction type. White windows complemented red brick veneer and steel siding, "creating a nice flow throughout the building," Heimbigner noted.

The project didn't start until July, so the contractor had only seven weeks to install 165 units before school began. The original windows had supported two-inch-thick glass blocks above. The intent was to cut the window frames, take the windows out for replacement and leave the glass blocks in place. But since they had been mortared to the windows, the glass blocks had to be removed and replaced with steel panels.

With these construction challenges and such a tight timeline, the general contractor, Bryan West of Fisher Construction, relied on the manufacturer for support. He said, "A representative here in Billings came out to measure and order everything. Then he worked on one or two installations-as training-and it all came together smoothly. Everything fit nicely." West added that his crew of four was able to install as many as five windows a day, completing the job on time and on budget. "The window installation was easy and trouble-free," he said.

Since having the new windows installed, Heimbigner said the school has noticed a significant decrease in noise from the playground coming into the school, as well as savings in heating costs in one year alone. Plus, the screens allow more cool air in when needed while keeping bugs out. He commented, "It's hard to learn when the classroom isn't comfortable. We used to get e-mails all the time from teachers saying the rooms were too hot or too cold. Since installing the new windows, we haven't had a single complaint like that."