AIA Study Celebrates, ValidatesGreen Schools

A new study called "Greening America's Schools", commissioned by the American Institute of Architects (the local chapter of which is a Portland Architecture sponsor) and conducted by Capital E, a clean energy/green building consulting firm, suggests the benefits of schools built and designed with sustainable principals, methods and materials are even greater than previously believed, with improved test scores, better student health and lower operating costs. According to the report, sustainable schools save an average of $100,000 per year in operating costs.

The report analyzed 30 green schools built in 10 states from 2001-06, and concludes that the total financial benefits are as much 20 times greater than the initial cost. It includes energy and water savings, and improved student health and test scores. ""If all new school construction and school renovations were designed to be environmentally conscious starting today," the report goes on, "energy savings alone would total $20 billion over the next 10 years." Additional findings in "Greening America's Schools" include:

• An average of 33% less energy and 32% less water used than conventional schools
• A study of Chicago and Washington, D.C. schools found that better facilities can add 3 to 4 percentage points to a school's standardized test scores

The report also highlighted several existing green schools, and cited a whopping five different Oregon-based projects by Portland's BOORA Architects, more than any other firm. The projects are located in Clackamas, Monmouth, Canby, Newberg, and The Dalles.

I had the good fortune to visit three BOORA-designed sustainable schools a couple years ago for a Metropolis magazine feature. [Download LightFantastic.doc] I came away exceptionally impressed with the schools themselves, which, like the old Temptations song, seem to exhibit "sunshine on a cloudy day" thanks to all the daylighting. The designs are of course a team effort, but extra credit should go to BOORA principal Heinz Rudolf, FAIA. It's also worth noting that all of these projects included time spent at the BetterBricks daylighting lab at the University of Oregon's Portland center.

Comments

[nekrowombicon]

Regarding schools and the environment they create for children in today's society and modern urbanscape, Metropolis has an interesting read about a new park that recently opened in Wilsonville, designed by a Dutch landscape architect who is trying to revolutionize children's play areas in the US & UK.

While not directly aimed at 'sustainability,' this seems rather important concerning people's past comments regarding whether urban places such as SOWA and the Pearl are appropriate for children.

Article can be found here:
http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=2389

[nekrowombicon]

One of the ideas in the article talks about creating a landscape for kids to play in, rather than standardized plop'n'play litigation-free playsets... one place that does come to mind along these lines is the Jamison Park landscape and water feature in the Pearl. It is simply inundated by kids playing all summer long, and yet there are no blue and red plastic swing sets to be found...

[convolooted]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it would appear from reading the article that Tim Nash (formerly with Murase) researched and was inspired by Aldo van Eyck. Van Eyck, a Danish architect, did not actually design the park...he in fact passed away in 1999.

If you are not familiar with van Eyck's work, I suggest doing a little research. He has some very interesting ideas and projects, especially in regards to the human side of architecture.

[Ellen]

Van Eyck did do a lot of interesting work, but, as his name clearly indicates, he was Dutch, not Danish.

[nekrowombicon]

You are right, I misread the article. Guess that's what happens when you skim!