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Anchorage, Alaska – The Fred
and Sara Machetanz Elementary School in Wasilla, Alaska is the first school in
the state to receive the US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) certification. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough recently
adopted policies requiring public schools to achieve LEED certification for all
new construction. The USGBC program has 4 award levels: basic certification,
Silver, Gold and Platinum ratings. Although the policy was not adopted until
after the design was substantially complete, Machetanz Elementary was able to
achieve a LEED Silver rating. LEED for Schools is still in its infancy in
Alaska, but school districts across the state are progressively seeking
solutions to address energy use and environmental quality. The new Su Valley
High School is also seeking LEED certification.
Machetanz Elementary School was designed by McCool Carlson Green Architects. McCool Carlson Green is a leader in green building design in Alaska with 7 projects currently seeking LEED certification and 3 LEED Accredited Professionals on staff, including the USGBC Green Schools Advocacy Chair for the State of Alaska, Jason Gamache. McCool Carlson Green has been committed firm-wide to sustainable design and the implementation of green building practices in Alaska’s challenging environment for more than 3 decades.
Collins Construction of Wasilla, Alaska was the General Contractor.
ABOUT MACHETANZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Machetanz Elementary School is the fi rst constructed with the new prototype plan developed in a collaboration between Mc- Cool Carlson Green, the Mat-Su Borough and Mat-Su School District. The new 54,000 sf, $13 million facility, located at 4961 E. Nelson Road in Wasilla, Alaska, opened for the 2009-2010 school year. It accommodates 500 students in grades K-5. Recognizing the limitations of their current ‘cells & bells’ prototype, the School District charged the Design Committee to create a 21st century elementary school prototype that incorporates the best current knowledge while anticipating future trends in technology and education.
A series of workshops reviewed current national trends in education delivery and explored how those trends could be utilized to meet the current and long term needs of the Mat-Su Borough. Through interactive discussions with the Design Committee the following key educational trends were selected:
• Student-centered learning
• Multi-sensory stimulation
• Multimedia program delivery
• Collaborative learning environment
• Project based learning
• Active/exploratory curriculum
• Authentic, real-world context
Layers of Community
Working collaboratively, the design committee identifi ed a focus for this new prototype design that is enduring and grounded. The learning signature, Center for the Creation of Community, goes beyond the notion of community asset and affi rms the school as a catalyst for the development of healthy, vibrant neighborhoods:
This 21st Century school serves the community as a “Home Away From Home”, providing an environment that promotes a strong sense of belonging for students, parents, partners, and staff . Transcending the notion that school is for students only, it warmly invites all community members to participate in its daily life. This genuine spirit of collaboration makes learning more meaningful, practical, and eff ective. Fostering a healthy and vital community, the school is a hub for celebration, recreation, and learning.
Largely vacant right now, land development will grow up around a school that provides a meeting and social space for new residents to be welcomed. Internally the school has communities ranging from small professional groups and grade level groups to intermediate/primary groupings. Focused around a light-fi lled community space, classrooms have direct access and connection to the heart of the school for formal/ informal, small-group/large-group and individual learning activities.
Extended Learning Areas
Designed for multiple learning modalities, each classroom can expand activities into adjacent hallways and community space. Visually connected to each classroom, these common areas are easily supervised allowing for fl exible use throughout the school day.
Transformable Space
Designed for multiple activities and future program evolution, the Applied Learning Labs and the lively community gathering area are easily transformed. Open, semi-enclosed and enclosed confi gurations support large group, small group, gallery, dining and other activities in a space that is flooded with natural light even on the darkest days of winter.
Environmental Response
This LEED Silver project, situated in a reclaimed gravel pit, transforms site challenges into school assets:
• 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.
• Extreme Matanuska Glacier winds are mitigated by playful wind screens that echo exterior tilework.
• Bold color combinations provide welcome visual stimulation in a monochromatic winter landscape. Sustainable features of the school include:
• Site - Construction Pollution Prevention; Reclamation of a predeveloped land; Stormwater Management; Quality and Quantity control; Light Pollution Reduction
• Water - Water efficient landscaping; Water use reduction fixtures.
• Energy and Atmosphere – Commissioning;
Optimizing Energy
Performance with substantial energy savings.
• Materials and Resource - Building contains over 30% recycled content in building materials; 10% of the building materials were manufactured locally; Building materials contain rapidly renewable content.
• Indoor Environmental Quality
- Increased Indoor Air Quality; Enhanced Acoustics; Construction Indoor Air Quality Management and flush out prior to occupancy; Building materials have low VOC’s, for example reduced off -gassing of paints and glues; Better controllability of Lighting and Thermal comfort for occupants; Enhanced daylighting and biophilia (connection to the outdoors).
If you would like more information please call or email Crystal Barnes, Marketing Coordinator, McCool Carlson Green Architects, p. 907.563.8474, e. cbarnes@mcgalaska.com
ABOUT LEED
LEED is a third party certification program, developed by USGBC, a 501c(3) nonprofi t organization, and is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
LEED projects are not solely intended to be more energy effi cient, but also focus on a larger holistic approach to Sustainability:
Healthier Indoor Environments, Outdoor Environmental Stewardship, and Energy Efficiency.
For more information visit www.usgbc.org
Machetanz Elementary School was designed by McCool Carlson Green Architects. McCool Carlson Green is a leader in green building design in Alaska with 7 projects currently seeking LEED certification and 3 LEED Accredited Professionals on staff, including the USGBC Green Schools Advocacy Chair for the State of Alaska, Jason Gamache. McCool Carlson Green has been committed firm-wide to sustainable design and the implementation of green building practices in Alaska’s challenging environment for more than 3 decades.
Collins Construction of Wasilla, Alaska was the General Contractor.
ABOUT MACHETANZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Machetanz Elementary School is the fi rst constructed with the new prototype plan developed in a collaboration between Mc- Cool Carlson Green, the Mat-Su Borough and Mat-Su School District. The new 54,000 sf, $13 million facility, located at 4961 E. Nelson Road in Wasilla, Alaska, opened for the 2009-2010 school year. It accommodates 500 students in grades K-5. Recognizing the limitations of their current ‘cells & bells’ prototype, the School District charged the Design Committee to create a 21st century elementary school prototype that incorporates the best current knowledge while anticipating future trends in technology and education.
A series of workshops reviewed current national trends in education delivery and explored how those trends could be utilized to meet the current and long term needs of the Mat-Su Borough. Through interactive discussions with the Design Committee the following key educational trends were selected:
• Student-centered learning
• Multi-sensory stimulation
• Multimedia program delivery
• Collaborative learning environment
• Project based learning
• Active/exploratory curriculum
• Authentic, real-world context
Layers of Community
Working collaboratively, the design committee identifi ed a focus for this new prototype design that is enduring and grounded. The learning signature, Center for the Creation of Community, goes beyond the notion of community asset and affi rms the school as a catalyst for the development of healthy, vibrant neighborhoods:
This 21st Century school serves the community as a “Home Away From Home”, providing an environment that promotes a strong sense of belonging for students, parents, partners, and staff . Transcending the notion that school is for students only, it warmly invites all community members to participate in its daily life. This genuine spirit of collaboration makes learning more meaningful, practical, and eff ective. Fostering a healthy and vital community, the school is a hub for celebration, recreation, and learning.
Largely vacant right now, land development will grow up around a school that provides a meeting and social space for new residents to be welcomed. Internally the school has communities ranging from small professional groups and grade level groups to intermediate/primary groupings. Focused around a light-fi lled community space, classrooms have direct access and connection to the heart of the school for formal/ informal, small-group/large-group and individual learning activities.
Extended Learning Areas
Designed for multiple learning modalities, each classroom can expand activities into adjacent hallways and community space. Visually connected to each classroom, these common areas are easily supervised allowing for fl exible use throughout the school day.
Transformable Space
Designed for multiple activities and future program evolution, the Applied Learning Labs and the lively community gathering area are easily transformed. Open, semi-enclosed and enclosed confi gurations support large group, small group, gallery, dining and other activities in a space that is flooded with natural light even on the darkest days of winter.
Environmental Response
This LEED Silver project, situated in a reclaimed gravel pit, transforms site challenges into school assets:
• 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.
• Extreme Matanuska Glacier winds are mitigated by playful wind screens that echo exterior tilework.
• Bold color combinations provide welcome visual stimulation in a monochromatic winter landscape. Sustainable features of the school include:
• Site - Construction Pollution Prevention; Reclamation of a predeveloped land; Stormwater Management; Quality and Quantity control; Light Pollution Reduction
• Water - Water efficient landscaping; Water use reduction fixtures.
• Energy and Atmosphere – Commissioning;
Optimizing Energy
Performance with substantial energy savings.
• Materials and Resource - Building contains over 30% recycled content in building materials; 10% of the building materials were manufactured locally; Building materials contain rapidly renewable content.
• Indoor Environmental Quality
- Increased Indoor Air Quality; Enhanced Acoustics; Construction Indoor Air Quality Management and flush out prior to occupancy; Building materials have low VOC’s, for example reduced off -gassing of paints and glues; Better controllability of Lighting and Thermal comfort for occupants; Enhanced daylighting and biophilia (connection to the outdoors).
If you would like more information please call or email Crystal Barnes, Marketing Coordinator, McCool Carlson Green Architects, p. 907.563.8474, e. cbarnes@mcgalaska.com
ABOUT LEED
LEED is a third party certification program, developed by USGBC, a 501c(3) nonprofi t organization, and is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
LEED projects are not solely intended to be more energy effi cient, but also focus on a larger holistic approach to Sustainability:
Healthier Indoor Environments, Outdoor Environmental Stewardship, and Energy Efficiency.
For more information visit www.usgbc.org
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