Crofton High School - AIA Chesapeake Bay Honor Award and Sustainable Design Award

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Sited within Crofton Park, a community recreational area adjacent to a residential neighborhood, the new Crofton High School embraces nature to provide students with an inspirational and flexible learning environment."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,""]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The design takes advantage of the steeply-sloped site by linking the three-story academic bar to the media center, gym, cafeteria, and administration through connecting bridges on the second and third floors. An outdoor amphitheater\u2014proximate to the core instructional programs and existing nature trails\u2014is nestled in the space between the forms."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,""]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Through an innovative use of materials, moments within the design are inspired by a walk through the woods and bring the outdoors in. An organic frit pattern reminiscent of leaves falling to the ground\u2014developed using computational design\u2014is screen-printed on the bridge\u2019s glass curtainwall. As the sun shines through the glass, the pattern reflects on the floor while also reducing solar heat gain. Within the lobby, custom-designed, backlit perforated panels illuminate a view of the forest."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,""]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Natural light and ventilation are maximized within the primary learning environments\u2014proven factors in student performance\u2014with nearly every window offering views to the surrounding forest. Classrooms feature flexible, movable furniture and dual teaching walls to support differentiated instruction. Each academic level also contains centrally located flex classrooms that can accommodate two classes simultaneously. Free of lockers, corridors serve as breakout spaces with benches, whiteboards, and pinup space for collaboration."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,""]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Sustainable design features were integrated with the learning goals for this new high school, including a focus on outdoor environmental learning opportunities. Designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, energy reduction initiatives included computer energy modeling to inform the building design, natural daylighting coupled with intelligent lighting controls, zoning of the building to correspond with occupancy and use profiles, and enhanced building commissioning. Building concepts such as maximizing ventilation in all learning spaces, water efficient systems, a well-insulated envelope, and the use of durable materials with recycled content were also incorporated."]]]]}