Hoover High School's Green Woodshop

Hoover High School “Green” Woodshop. Value $3.9M. Project Duration: 13 months in an occupied campus.

The Hoover HS Green Construction Program is a cutting-edge project at Hoover High School that features a modern, commercial woodshop set in an industrial arts classroom. The building is a steel moment frame and CMU structure. The 5,700-square-foot facility is a true model of green construction. The facility itself serves as an educational lab, teaching students about renewable technologies in construction, including photovoltaic solar systems, renewable and recycled building products, and energy efficiency. A state-of-the-art ventilation system addresses dust and noise, while simultaneously supplying superior air quality in a shop environment. The design of both the educational program and the facility is expected to garner considerable attention across the state and the country.

Additional building features include:

• State-of-the-art ventilation system addressing dust and noise control in the facility
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – Achieved LEED Silver Certification
• Photovoltaic solar system
• 960-square-foot classroom
• Explosion-proof fixtures and components of fire alarm, intrusion, lighting and power systems
• Shade structure
• Courtyard lined with pervious pavers
• Drought-tolerant landscape
• Dust collection system with explosion prevention system
• Storm drain and water filtration boxes

Complexity:
The project occurred in an occupied school campus and adjacent to the main high school delivery entrance. The City of San Diego also had a separate project replacing the main sewer line along Highland Ave during our construction period, limiting access.
This project was the first LEED project for the Client SDUSD requiring a learning curve. The project achieved LEED Silver certification from GBCI and although this was initially designed for a basic “certified” level; through the collaborative approach of the designer, contractor, CM, and client, the project achieved the next highest certification level of Silver.
Design and construction complexity included a very specialized dust control and ventilation system housed in a separate blast containment section of the building. Superior air quality in the shop area was achieved and noise control in the classroom space.
Specialized tools and equipment of an industrial grade were provided by the owner and installed by the contractor. These were all tied in electrically through dust and explosive proof connections and individually tied through the energy management system to the dust control system.

The result of this project is the provision of a commercial grade woodshop facilitating SDUSD’s College, Career & Technical Education (CCTE) initiative to provide a program that is standards-based on rigorous academics applied and instructed through real world application. This facility will provide high school students with skills necessary to succeed in post-secondary/college education, entry-level employment and/or career advancement. The instructional integration of academic and workplace skills provides career awareness and exploration, including paid and un-paid internship opportunities. Our team was proud to work on this project and be a part of SDUSD’s CCTE program.

It’s all about the kids.