Sustainable features

The principal sustainability goal of the design was to minimize negative impact on the environment while connecting children to nature.

• During construction it was of primary importance to retain as much as possible of the existing landscape and maintain existing grading. New plantings were added thoughtfully to infill using native species, allowing nature to regenerate.

• Bird friendly glazing strategies were employed to protect birds from injury.

• Wood and other natural materials are featured in the design. Some of the trees onsite that needed to be removed were turned into lumber and/or furniture for reuse on the site and in the building. Existing landscape materials such as large rocks, stumps, and logs were retained as features in the landscape.

• Sustainable materials have been selected. These are regionally sourced and manufactured wherever possible. Recycled content, recyclable products were prioritized. No- and low-VOC, formaldehyde-free products were used exclusively. High-durability materials were selected to reduce the environmental impact throughout the building’s lifecycle.

• The building has a high-performance, super-insulated, extremely airtight building envelope in order to reduce energy consumption. Triple-glazed, argon-filled windows in punched openings have been used, with films added to reduce solar heat gain. Thermally broken window and door frames have been used to reduce heat loss.

• Carbon and energy reduction targets have been set with the goal to limit Greenhouse Gas Emission in line with the NCC’s Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS).

• A commissioning agent was used on the project to review documentation prior to construction, review installation, and provide commissioning services post-construction. This ensured that the sustainability goals were held throughout the project.