Zach Elementary School
Fort Collins, CO 

The two-story building, located on 14.2 acres, includes K-5 classrooms, media center, flex room, full kitchen, gymnasium, art and music, and administrative areas.  It will operate on a standard nine-month schedule, and the building itself will teach the students about energy efficiency and the environment.  

Incorporating many construction elements into a sustainable design, Zach Elementary is energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  The school’s most noticeable physical feature is its recycled rubber and plastic shingle siding.  In addition, much of the flooring and a portion of the steel framing are manufactured from recycled materials.  The highly efficient glazing works in concert with the mechanical and electrical systems of the building to maintain a comfort level without excessive energy consumption.   The electrical system includes a Building Automation System (BAS), which monitors the mechanical units and shuts them down when they are not needed; the Power Logic lighting system adjusts light levels in the building depending on outside light to avoid unnecessary electricity usage.  Ice storage tanks are used to assist in cooling, and many of the classrooms and offices have operable windows to let in fresh air with no effort from the mechanical units.

Open ceilings and see-through walls, allow students to discover the behind-the-scenes functions of their school building.  The exposed piping throughout the building is color-coded and labeled, enabling the children to trace, for example, how the cold water get to their upstairs sink faucet, or how warm air reaches their classroom.  The building’s main fire riser is located in the front entry, painted bright red, as are the fire sprinkler lines, making it possible for the students to see how the fire protection system is connected throughout the building. An Energy Star® Qualified building.

Architect: RB + B Architects www.rbbarchitects.com
Owner: Poudre School District www.psdschools.org

Colorado Construction Magazine's Gold Hard Hat Award Winner for Outstanding Environmental Project 2002.

Click here for project summary.