Alaska’s first LEED-certified school opened its doors this past fall to the students of Wasilla, one of the fastest growing communities in America. Wasilla, now famous as the hometown of former Gov. Sarah Palin, is located approximately 45 miles north of Anchorage, the state’s largest city, and is part of the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough School District, which spans more than 25,000 square miles.

The multipurpose room’s ceiling fan helps to maintain an even temperature throughout the space. Photos by Kevin G. Smith.

Mat-Su Borough recently adopted policies requiring public facilities to achieve LEED certification for all new construction. Although the policy was not adopted until after the design of Machetanz Elementary was substantially complete, the designers, contractors and school district were able to achieve LEED Silver. Nationally, it was one of the first to certify under the recently released LEED for Schools rating system, and it is the northernmost facility certified to date. LEED for Schools is still in its infancy in Alaska, but school districts across the state are progressively seeking solutions to address skyrocketing energy bills and improve indoor environmental quality in extremely challenging climatic settings.

Designing successful sustainable strategies for Machetanz Elementary and other future green schools in Alaska is a balanced process. The Machetanz design team worked with the school district to select and incorporate sustainable building strategies driven by climate design criteria that were feasible and cost-effective. During the design process, emphasis was also placed on creating a healthy and safe indoor environment while promoting the best possible learning experience for the students. 

This 54,000-square-foot, $13 million elementary school, situated in a reclaimed gravel pit, promotes varied learning experiences for its students by transforming site challenges into school assets. For example, the limited solar arc prompted a configuration where all classrooms face south. Low winter sun angles are harnessed to bring sunlight into most learning spaces, even those on the north side of the school. This feature reduces dependence on electric lighting during daylight hours while improving student focus and teacher comfort. Daylight sensors turn off or dim highly efficient lighting fixtures when they detect sufficient classroom light levels.

Throughout the 470-student school, various design strategies are used to reduce the consumption of energy and improve the quality of the learning environment. Mechanical and electrical distribution rooms are centrally located in the compact two-story plan to reduce the cost of distribution networks and subsequent energy loss. A large ceiling fan is located high above in the large open multipurpose room. The fan is designed to draw warm air lost in the clerestory space back down toward the floor area to be reintroduced for thermal comfort. In the cooling season, the fan reverses to draw warm air away from occupants. 

Editor's Note: According to manufacturer BIG ASS FANS, the fans do not actually change directions to move hot air. The airfoils are designed to move air effectively only in a clockwise rotation. By slowing the speed of the fan, warm air is pushed down to the occupant level. Because of the slow circulation, large volume and aerodynamic airfoil design, warm air is moved to the floor without creating a draft or unwelcomed breeze. In the summer, fan speed may be increased to move massive, comforting breezes through a space.

The school’s layout and design maximizes daylight usage and reduces energy consumption. Photo by Kevin G. Smith.

A thermally efficient envelope with high-performance glazing systems and passive natural ventilation complement each other, eliminating the need for mechanical cooling and reducing heating loads. Wall cavities include R-21 insulation made from recycled content with continuous insulated sheathing to prevent thermal bridging.

Specified building materials have little to no VOCs. Materials with low VOCs reduce off-gassing of toxic chemicals found in some flooring finishes, casework, paints and glues. The mechanical systems are designed through specialized filtration media to maintain high-quality air and reduce the potential for mold development.

Thirty percent of the materials specified contained recycled or rapidly renewable content, and 10 percent were produced locally. The remoteness of Alaska and lack of manufacturing facilities severely limit the availability of local materials and put a premium on lightweight, easily shippable materials.

Exemplified in the design of Machetanz Elementary is an integrated solution that works to lower long-term operating costs and contribute to the overall environmental, aesthetic and functional quality of the community.   

Sidebar: Fred & Sara Machetanz

Many of the materials used in the school contain recycled or rapidly renewable content. Photo by Kevin G. Smith.

Size: 54,000 square feet

Location: 4961 E. Nelson Rd., Wasilla, Alaska

Date Complete: August 2009

Capacity: 470 students; grades K-5

Project Cost: $13 million


Project Team

Architect: McCool Carlson Green

Educational Facility Planner: BrainSpaces

Interior Designer: Cathy Kerr, ASID, LEED AP

Civil/Structural: PND Engineers

Mechanical/Electrical: AMC Engineers

Landscape Architect: Land Design North

Contractor: Collins Construction


Building Materials

Big Ass Fans

Ceco Doors and Frames

Nora Environcare Flooring

Mondo Advance Rubber Sports Flooring

InterfaceFLOR Modular Carpet

Lee’s Neofloor

Mannington Relay Flooring

Roppe Rubber Base and Stair Treads

Wall Technology Acoustical Wall Panels

Dal-Tile Natural Hues Wall Tile

Royal Mosa Global Collection 2nd Edition Wall Tile

Draper Wall Protection Pads

ICI Dulux Paint

Claridge Cork and Steel Marker Boards

Roseburg Sky Blend Particleboard

Rehau Naturedge

Armstrong Ceiling Systems

Johns Manville Fiber Glass Insulation

Ledalite Lighting Fixtures