“ Buildings with better indoor air quality , natural daylighting , and other high-performance
features generate increased attendance and improve test scores .
CAW ARCHITECTS
It has been well documented that there is a clear link between increased student performance and the environmental quality of the built environment . According to principal Chris Wasney , FAIA , “ Buildings with better indoor air quality , natural daylighting , and other high-performance features generate increased attendance and improve test scores .” He continues , “ We believe that good design is sustainable design , and these practices will directly benefit students .”
To date , the firm has designed the first two LEED Platinum K-12 public school buildings in the Bay Area , a Net-Zero Energy Master Plan for a comprehensive public high school in Oakland , and substantial campus revitalizations at Stanford University , which has an established goal of becoming carbon neutral and utilizing 100 % renewable energy . Highlights of the firm ’ s educational portfolio emphasizing sustainable learning environments include :
Above and below , Corte Madera School
CORTE MADERA SCHOOL
For this new campus development for the Portola Valley School District , CAW was tasked with replacing aging classroom buildings and designing two new buildings that allow for flexible and adaptable learning environments . Since the buildings about natural wetlands , integrating the architecture within the natural site was essential both for water conservation and creating robust teaching experiences within the landscape . Examples of this include classrooms that project over a frog pond , allowing students to wander through the environment in mud boots .
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