Gilbert Architects designed the Wallace Elementary School additions and renovations project. Wallace Elementary School was originally built in 1952, with additional work in 1991 and 2002.
Full systemic renovations to the existing building included the replacement of the electrical systems, better energy-efficient lighting, replacement of the HVAC system converting to geothermal, and the addition of a building-wide sprinkler system to meet the code requirements.
One may question, just how efficient can you design a school that is this old? Well, let me share with you, “very efficient.”
A year after the school opened, the mechanical engineer, with the help of the district’s building and grounds department, reviewed and compared the utility costs for gas and electricity and the findings were exciting.
Size: 31,400 SF Cost before construction: gas & electric = $41,132 or $1.31/SF
Size: 61,500 SF Cost after construction: gas & electric = $42,051 or $0.68/SF
These results are amazing! The school district basically doubled the size of the school and only increased the total annual energy cost by $900. This is due to the high-efficiency geothermal system, an effective control system, efficient lighting, and a very efficient school design. Good decisions made by all!
Leave a Comment