The 35,880 GSF High School Building, targeting a LEED for Schools GOLD certification is designed for 360 students (grades 9 - 12) and 48 faculty and staff. The two-story School includes, 19 classrooms and 4 science laboratories linearly organized within opposing wings. Central to each wing is a student Reading Room, hierarchically differentiated by butterfly roofs for distributing daylight. The Reading Rooms reflect the team oriented approach to the School’s instructional methodology. Extending instruction to the exterior, overhead doors open to learning courtyards protected by trellises and canopy trees for shading. Interior material selections were guided by longevity, durability and environmental impact. Specifications include low VOCs, recycled content, and forest certified woods. The environmental building systems reinforce the School’s academic mission, student awareness of, “global engagement” and “ethical responsibility”. Modeling for daylight control and harvesting guided the placement of windows, light shelves, shading devices and solatubes. Photo sensors and occupancy sensors work in tandem with user lighting control to automatically adjust lighting levels. Over 99% of instructional and regularly occupied non-instructional spaces achieve daylight and views. Dynamic thermal modeling guided passive ventilation design for regularly occupied spaces. The Reading Lounges and building lobby have been modeled for passive ventilation. Classrooms, laboratories and office areas are afforded cross-ventilation by operable windows and relief air vents to the building roof. Classroom occupant comfort is predicted to be within the comfort zone without supplemental conditioning 49% of the year. When occupant comfort can not be maintained, an efficient Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system is on stand-by. Potable water use will be reduced by low-flow fixtures and waterless urinals. The project targets a 30% reduction in water. An SDG&E sponsored 1,500 sf (15 kW) rooftop photovoltaic array will offset the School’s energy use by approximately 2.5%. Thanks to passive ventilation and energy efficient day lighting the High School’s overall building energy performance is projected to be approximately 40% less than a building designed to California Energy Code. Native and adaptive plant selections irrigated with recycled water is estimated to reduce irrigation water by over 50%.

Project Information

Project Address: 

6269 El Fuerte St, Bldg H, Carlsbad, CA 92009

Project Owner/ Developer: 

Pacific Ridge School

Owner Contact Name/ Email: 

Phil Hitch, Director of Finance

Project Architect/ Designer: 

Carrier Johnson + Culture

Image