Little Star Montessori Infant & Toddler

[{"body":{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"This 6,000-square-foot addition to\nLittle Star Montessori School expands the school\u2019s campus to better serve the\nyoungest children in Washington\u2019s Methow Valley. The new building is reflective\nof Little Star\u2019s guiding principles, which champion the needs of young children\nfirst, in the scale of its classrooms, careful siting and landscape design, and\nenduring connections to the broader concept of sustainability. A joyful\ninvitation to explore, the building is a physical representation of Montessori\nideals. "]]],[1,"blockquote",[[0,[],0,"\u201cIt is well-integrated\ninto the site and fits the surrounding architectural context while being\nrespectful of the environment. This is a simple building done very well.\u201d - Jury comment"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The design team was inspired by the\nlate Rayma Hayes, the school\u2019s founder and longtime guiding force, whose\napproach to nearly any problem was first to consider the best way to serve the\nchildren in her care. For the design of the school\u2019s new infant and toddler\nbuilding, which doubled its size and capacity, the team sought to shape an\nenvironment that evokes Hayes\u2019 legacy by putting the needs of the valley\u2019s\nyoungest children first."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The resulting architecture is rooted in\nthe Reggio Emilia philosophy of architecture as the \u201cthird teacher.\u201d The new\nbuilding adds three classrooms, administrative offices, and an activity room\ncalled the Active Space, where students are encouraged to be loud, messy,\ncreative, and free. The interior spaces are filled with natural light and appropriately\nscaled for young children. Low windows and wood-lined nooks reassure small\nchildren and allow them to observe the landscape, an important component of\nMontessori education. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"On days with nice weather, the Active\nSpace\u2019s doors can be flung open to erase the divide between interior and\nexterior. The children can ride their tricycles from the Tour de Little Star\nloop into the Active Space, or they are free to engage in impromptu gymnastics\non the grassy oval lawn. The exterior space accommodates the Montessori concept\nof circle time but on a much broader community level. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The original school was built more than\n35 years ago, a time when it stood seemingly alone at the edge of the small\ntown of Winthrop. Today, it is at the heart of a burgeoning town and nimbly\nresponds to the valley\u2019s shifting community. In addition, Little Star is an\nimportant leader in sustainable development in a community that previously had\nfew examples of such. Many of the addition\u2019s sustainable measures\u2014low-VOC finishes,\nnative plantings, and low-flow plumbing fixtures\u2014were easily achieved, while\nothers required alterations to local codes. A lengthy campaign ultimately ended\nwith a code revision that will allow the school to install a photovoltaic array\non the roof, enabling it to achieve net zero energy consumption. "]]],[1,"blockquote",[[0,[],0,"\u201cThis project responds to the community\nand their culture and needs in a really beautiful way.\u201d - Jury comment"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The design and construction of Little\nStar\u2019s infant and toddler building were uniquely positive and inspiring for all\ninvolved. The architects, consultants, contractors, and the school community\nall embraced the process and channeled their passions to shape a building that\nwill nurture, teach, and delight the valley\u2019s children for many years. "]]]]},"title":"Project highlights"},{"body":{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aia.org\/resources\/6077668-framework-for-design-excellence","target","_new"]],["strong"],["em"]],"sections":[[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"AIA Framework for Design Excellence"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The "],[0,[0],1,"AIA Framework for Design Excellence"],[0,[],0," represents the defining\nprinciples of good design in the 21st century. Comprised of 10 principles and\naccompanied by searching questions, the Framework seeks to inform progress\ntoward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment. "]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Integration"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Was there a design charrette? "],[0,[],0,"Yes"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Equitable Communities"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Level of community engagement:"],[0,[],0," "]]],[3,"ul",[[[0,[],0,"Consult: Stakeholders were provided with opportunities to provide input at pre-designed points in the process. "]],[[0,[],0,"Involve: Stakeholders were involved throughout most of the process. "]],[[0,[],0,"Collaborate: A partnership was formed with stakeholders to share in the decision making process including development of alternatives and identification of the preferred solution. "]],[[0,[],0,"Empower: Stakeholders were provided with opportunities to make decisions for the project."]]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Ecosystems"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Site area that supported vegetation (landscape or green roof)\npre-development:"],[0,[],0," 100% "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Site area that supports vegetation post-development:"],[0,[],0," 65%"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Site area covered by native plants supporting native or migratory\nspecies and pollinators:"],[0,[],0," 50%"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Strategies used to promote Design for Ecosystems:"],[0,[],0," biodiversity, dark skies, soil conservation, habitat conservation, flora\/fauna, abatement of specific regional environmental concerns"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Water"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Is potable water used for irrigation?"],[0,[],0," Yes"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Is potable water used for cooling?"],[0,[],0," No"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Is grey\/blackwater reused on-site?"],[0,[],0," No"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Is rainwater collected on-site?"],[0,[],0," No"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Stormwater managed on-site:"],[0,[],0," 100%"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Energy"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"2030 Commitment baseline EUI:"],[0,[],0," 64 kBtu\/sf\/yr"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Predicted net EUI including on-site renewables:"],[0,[],0," 0 kBtu\/sf\/yr"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Reduction from the benchmark: "],[0,[],0,"100%"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Is the project all-electric?"],[0,[],0," Yes"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Well-being"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Level of air filters installed: "],[0,[],0,"HEPA"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Was a \u201cchemicals of concern\u201d list used to inform material selection?"],[0,[],0," Yes"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Do greater than 90% of occupied spaces have a direct view to the\noutdoors? "],[0,[],0,"Yes"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Resources "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Were embodied carbon emissions estimated for this project?"],[0,[],0," No"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Change"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Estimated service life: "],[0,[],0,"100"],[0,[1],1," "],[0,[],0,"years"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Floor area, if any, representing adapting existing buildings:"],[0,[],0,"\n0%"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Ability to survive without utility power:"],[0,[],0," passive survivability"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Risk assessment and resilience services provided: "],[0,[],0,"hazard identification, climate change risk, building vulnerability assessment"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Design for Discovery"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],1,"Has a post-occupancy evaluation been conducted?"],[0,[],0," Yes"]]],[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Disclaimer"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[2],1,"This information is being provided as a convenience and has been\nprepared by third parties. It is provided for informational purposes only.\nProviding this material does not constitute an endorsement or approval by AIA\nof any of the information. AIA bears no responsibility for the accuracy,\nlegality, or content of this information. Please use at your own discretion. "]]]]},"title":"Framework for Design Excellence metrics"}]