Newhall School District

Additional Info

Award Winner : M Space Holdings LLC

Architectural Excellence : M SPACE provided Newhall School District in Valencia, CA with three wings of high performance classrooms. The school district decided on high performance classrooms as part of a modernization program they were undergoing and selected our P. IQ design. They replaced old out-of-date portable classrooms that had been in use for 25 years with the new permanent, green classrooms. The wings of classrooms have a raised roof that reaches 21 feet at its highest point. The raised roof allows for the installation of the clerestory windows and light shelves. The classrooms are also designed to be teacher friendly. There are full teaching walls across the front of each classroom with built in cabinets and sliding whiteboards with storage behind them. In addition, the walls are covered with self-healing felt board to allow teachers and students to easily hang items throughout the classroom.

Cost Energy Effectiveness : The most cost effective aspect of the P. IQ classrooms is their energy efficiency. There are several features of the classrooms that save energy and in turn save costs for the district. Upgraded insulation was installed in the walls, ceiling and floor of the classrooms. The upgraded insulation keeps the building from absorbing the outside air, requiring less heat or air conditioning. The Thermal Displacement Ventilation (TDV) unit is also energy efficient. TDV uses up to 40 percent less energy than a mixed ventilation approach. In addition, the metal roof also contributes to the overall energy efficiency of the building. It reflects the heat from the sun and drastically reduces the heat gain into the building, resulting in less of a need for air conditioning. The daylighting system also leads to both energy and cost savings. This is because the interior lights only run when necessary using less energy and reducing electricity costs.

Design Firm Name : NAC

Green Building Description : One of the main green aspects of these classrooms is their improved indoor air quality. The TDV system is designed to improve air quality and create a healthy and comfortable atmosphere. As the air rises and leaves the building, it takes along with it contaminates moving towards the ceiling and away from the occupants, which results in air at the breathing zone that is 20% fresher than the air being exhausted. In addition, there are lower concentrations of carbon dioxide levels in rooms with TDV than those in rooms using conventional systems. Densglass sheathing was placed on the exterior of the building, under the siding panels. This sheathing has a moisture-resistant core and enhanced fiberglass mats. This product resists the growth of mold, contributing further to the healthy air quality within the building. Another green feature is the fact that many of the materials were selected from recycled/recyclable products including ceiling tiles, carpet and fiber cement siding panels.

Occupied Date : 8/11/2014

Production Start Date : 12/15/2013

Project Location City : Valencia

Project Location State Name : CA

Technical Innovation : The structure of the classrooms was designed for optimal daylighting. They have vaulted open ceilings with clerestory windows. They also have sunshades, exterior light shelves and operable casement windows. The interior light fixtures have auto dimming ballasts that increase or decrease the brightness of the artificial light in correspondence to the amount of natural light available in the room. The daylighting system creates a more comfortable environment for the occupants as flicker, glare and noise of fluorescent lights often causes eye strain, irritation, headache and fatigue.

The classrooms were also designed for superior sound quality. The Thermal Displacement Ventilation (TDV) system can be up to 10 decibels quieter than a typical HVAC unit. The low ventilation rate causes the fan motor to produce less noise than conventional systems. Acoustic ceiling tiles help to keep the classrooms quiet by reducing the reverberation of noise generated both inside and out of the building

Total Square Feet : 19680