Students at Hawaii Baptist Academy Middle School enjoy a learning environment that is unique not only because it is one of the most beautiful in the world but also because it has earned one of the highest rankings for its kind in sustainability. Students and faculty know that their school is as good as gold, certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. In fact, it was one of the first LEED Gold-certified projects in Hawaii.

Located in lush Nuuanu Valley on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, the $9.5 million Hawaii Baptist Academy Middle School was completed in March 2006. The school contains 28,000 square feet of floor area consisting of 11 classrooms, two science labs, a computer lab, multipurpose assembly space for 230 occupants, a snack bar, a reception area, two administrative offices, a conference room, a security booth and 84 parking stalls.

Group 70 International shared Hawaii Baptist Academy’s vision of a sustainable learning environment rooted in core community values. Built for sustainability, the design of the middle school respects the unique pristine surroundings by preserving 87 percent of the open area and saving energy, conserving water and providing healthy interior environments.

“Where every child is personally known…” was a major theme, which resonated with the design team from the initial visioning charrette. The solution was to design a “village of homes surrounding a courtyard.” What better setting for each child to be individually reached than in a “home” rather than an institution?

The design further complements the historic architecture of Nuuanu’s residential neighborhood characterized by its bungalow style homes and their large covered patios (or “lanai” in Hawaiian vernacular). Students remark that the school has the feel of a second home. As a side benefit, teachers noticed that maximizing the amount of natural daylight in the classrooms creates an outside forestlike setting and seems to have a calming affect on students that encourages better focus on classroom activities.

By maximizing daylight in all classrooms, stairways, corridors and offices, Hawaii Baptist Academy’s Middle School is able to save on rising energy costs. Photo courtesy of Group 70 International Inc.

Top of the Class

LEED Gold certification of the school was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project and the broader community:

• The school’s high-performance, energy-efficient system saves 45 percent on energy costs. Approximately 10 percent of energy is saved by photovoltaic panels, and additional energy is saved by maximizing daylighting in all classrooms, stairways, corridors and offices through the use of high-performance glass, light pipes and light shelves.
• The middle school is 100 percent independent of city water supply for irrigation through the use of a 20,000-gallon water catchment system. Low-flow, waterless and automated plumbing fixtures save 20 percent on water use.
• The school also incorporates low-VOC sealants, carpets and adhesives as well as zero-VOC plants. VOCs, or “volatile organic compounds,” include greenhouse gases and other compounds that can damage soil and groundwater or contribute to air pollution.
• Even the student lockers are made from recycled materials -- recycled plastic egg crates in this case.
• While the school was being constructed, 89 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills. Everywhere you turn, the middle school features environmentally responsible elements. Even the doormats are designed to reduce pollutants from entering indoor spaces.

Completed in March 2006, the $9.5 million project includes 11 classrooms that provide students with views of the pristine Nuuanu stream and surrounding landscape. Photo courtesy of Group 70 International Inc.

Awards Received

• 2007 LEED Gold Certification
• 2007 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honolulu Mayor’s Choice Award
• 2007 National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) Kukulu Hale Award
• 2007 Building Industry Association (BIA) Grand Award Hawaii BuiltGreen

Biggest Project Challenge

• The team’s greatest challenge was the site orientation. The natural location for siting the school was in a north-south orientation. The grade supported this orientation, and it would also provide views of the stream running through the site. However, this is contrary to energy efficiency design in which the first rule of thumb is “orientate your building on an east-west axis.”
• The team was able to overcome this obstacle by using the site’s natural east tree line and neighboring mountain range to block early morning sun from entering the building. Light pipes were also utilized to bring daylighting deep into the classrooms on both the upper floor and below grade lower floor. Where possible, north-facing glazing was incorporated.
• In summary, the team was able to show that poor orientation can be overcome using the site’s resources and innovation.

Project Team

Owner: Hawaii Baptist Academy

Architect: Group 70 International Inc.

Contractor: Maryl Pacific

Structural: Englekirk Partners

Mechanical: Mechanical Engineers of Hawaii

Electrical: Moss Engineering

Civil: Engineering Solutions

Landscape: Walters Kimura Motoda

Energy Modeling: Rocky Mountain Institute