GOLD MEDAL AWARD WINNER
The Building of America
Pine Jog Elementary School and FAU/Pine Jog Environmental Education Center www.constructionreviews.com
Facts & Figures Owners: School District of Palm Beach County; Florida Atlantic University Type of Project: Two new buildings on a new educational campus Size: 140,000 square feet (elementary school); 15,000 square feet (environmental education center) Cost: $30 million (construction costs) Construction Time: April 2007 - August 2008 The Need: An innovative, sustainable learning environment and hands-on curriculum for students The Challenge: Being the first LEED®-certified school in the area
Gold Medal Award-winning Team Members Zyscovich Architects Architect Pirtle Construction Company Construction Manager at Risk MCO Construction Construction Manager at Risk Diamond Shine International LLC Decorative Polished Concrete Floors Sustainaissance International High-performance Green School & LEED® Consultant Wisch and Jackson Co. of Florida, Inc. Building Automation Contractor
florida edition
West Palm Beach, Florida
Pine Jog Elementary School and FAU/ Pine Jog Environmental Education Center A unique partnership between
both projects would be designed
Jog site, which had been used as a
the School District of Palm Beach
and constructed in such a way to
low-key environmental education
County (SDPBC) and Florida Atlantic
achieve Leadership in Energy and
center for many years, proved to be
University (FAU) made the Pine Jog
Environmental Design (LEED®) silver
the perfect site,” said Gene Colson,
Elementary School and the FAU/
certification. In the end, however,
LEED AP, senior project administra-
Pine Jog Environmental Education
both projects were actually award-
tor for SDPBC, and Thorn Grafton,
Center possible. These two facili-
ed gold certification.
LEED AP, director of sustainable
ties were planned and designed
The school district was seeking
initiatives for Zyscovich Architects,
together as an innovative learning
an appropriate site for a new ele-
the project’s architect. Primarily
environment, focusing on develop-
mentary school and FAU’s College
pine flatlands, the 150-acre site
ing a hands-on curriculum for sus-
of Education was seeking to launch
also contains a large pond and wet-
tainability. Thus, it was agreed that
a sustainability curricula. “The Pine
lands, oak hammocks, and a variety
gold medal award winner
Photos courtesy of Moris Moreno Photography
of indigenous animal species. The
and endangered species. During
construction materials and tech-
cled material, in place of approxi-
construction of the campus was
this survey it was determined that
niques that would complement the
mately 20 percent of the cement.
limited to 15 acres, leaving the
there were several gopher tortoise
overall green commitment of the
According to Mahoney and Pirtle,
remaining 135 acres to be used as
burrows located within the 15 acres
projects,” said Matthew Mahoney,
studies have indicated that for every
an outdoor classroom.
designated for the new buildings.
LEED AP, project manager, and
ton of fly ash that is used in lieu of
Design concepts were established
A protective barrier was installed in
Gary Pirtle, LEED AP, assistant vice
a ton of cement, carbon dioxide
that emphasized the school’s use as
order to capture, tag and relocate
president for Pirtle Construction
emissions are reduced equal to that
a teaching tool to educate students
the gopher tortoise to other areas
Company, one of the project’s con-
of an automobile operating for two
and staff about the importance of
within the 135 acres. A tree and
struction managers at risk. “One of
months. Therefore, since more than
the environment and sustainable
shrub survey was also prepared that
the goals during the design process
500 tons of fly ash was used in
design, beginning with where to
identified and cataloged thousands
was to design facilities unique and
place of cement in these buildings,
locate
140,000-square-foot
of existing trees and shrubs in order
complementary to the site as well
this equates to eliminating carbon
school and the 15,000-square-foot
to determine which would remain
as designing facilities with materials
dioxide emissions for a vehicle for
environmental education center in
and which could be removed and
and features that could be emu-
more than 80 years.
order to minimize impact to the
relocated.
lated in other school designs.”
the
In addition, the team used recy-
native habitat. An environmental
“Once the site plan and overall
The team utilized tilt-wall panels
cled crushed concrete in lieu of lime-
consultant was hired to conduct
building footprints were established,
to construct the exterior walls of
stone for the asphalt paving base;
a site survey of native, protected
then began the task of selecting
both buildings, using fly ash, a recy-
regionally manufactured structural continued on page 10
gold medal award winner
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The Owner’s Perspective with Gene Colson, LEED AP, Senior Project Administrator, School District of Palm Beach County Q: What were the greatest challenges encountered on this project? How, specifically, were they overcome? GC: Moving ahead with the first innovative, green LEED® school building in a particular region is challenging on a number of fronts. There was a perception among some that building green costs considerably more than the standard approach. This project proved that building to a LEED® silver standard would cost approximately four to five percent more on this first project, and the hope is that as the local construction market acclimates the relative costs should equalize. As the model shows, the campus should deliver approximately 22 percent energy savings and 30 percent water reductions. Over 84 percent of construction waste that would have gone to the landfill was diverted. So far, occupant satisfaction is very high compared to a standard new school. The school will measure its performance on many fronts to ensure initial positive performance is maintained.
Q: Were there any innovative strategies involving improved quality, cost-effectiveness or cost reductions? GC: …This project was to be used to test existing district standards and to suggest improvements that would lead to greater environmental and economic sustainability or improve staff, teacher and student health and
Photo courtesy of School District of Palm Beach County
performance. Several such suggestions include: reduced paper document submissions in favor of electronic documents, flexibility to incorporate greater recycled content in materials so long as durability is greater or uncompromised, and the implementation of school recycling programs and a “green” cleaning and maintenance regimen.
Q: If another owner was about to commence work on a similar project, what advice would you offer from your experiences that he/she may not be aware of? GC: Although this project may look or sound sophisticated, the need to keep things simple was always at work. Improvements to, or better applications of, existing technologies were preferred to untried new systems and materials, particularly on this first green school for the district.
3300 Forest Hill Blvd. West Palm Beach, FL 33406 561-649-6812
The General Contractor’s Perspective with Matthew Mahoney, LEED AP, Project Manager, and Gary Pirtle, LEED AP, Assistant Vice President, Pirtle Construction Company Q: How did you work with the architect and owner to save time and/ or money on the project? How was value engineering applied to your responsibility? MM & GP: At the time these projects were being designed. commercial and residential construction was nearing an all-time high in South Florida, and as a result, construction costs were following in suit. During the schematic and design phases of the project, budget estimates had been prepared by both the architect and construction manager which indicated that the projects were slightly over the school district’s budget but within range with the current design concepts. Because this project was being designed to achieve a LEED® certification it was understood that there would be some cost premium associated with this, however, as the documents developed into construction drawings and detailed cost estimates were prepared and subcontractor bids received, it was realized that construction costs were going to be over budget. Unfortunately the final cost estimates for the projects were developed during the height of construction in South Florida, which naturally drove cost higher than expected. This however did not minimize the fact that the projects were over budget and that measures needed to be taken quickly in order to get the projects within budget so that the scheduled completion dates could be met. Several meetings were held with the school district, architect and construction manager to determine what cost-saving measures could be implemented to get the projects within budget. These meetings resulted in numerous value engineering suggestions being offered. Some of the larger cost-saving suggestions included architectural and structural changes to the roof structures and canopies, changing the chillers from water cooled to air cooled, and various other suggestions. A final meeting was then held with the school district, architect and construction manager to review and select which of these cost-saving measures would be implemented. The driving force behind which items would be accepted and which would be rejected had to do with the effect of the item(s) on the LEED® credits they affected. Because of this, the mechanical system remained as a water cooled system and the architectural and structural changes to the roof structures and canopies were implemented along with several other smaller changes that did not affect overall LEED® credits. By accepting many of the suggested value engineering items the overall project costs fell in line with the school district’s budget. As a result of the accepted value engineering items, significant design changes needed to take place. Because of the construction schedule for the projects it was determined that a foundation permit would be applied for, which would allow construction to begin while the redesign was being completed. Prior to the foundation permit being applied for a site clearing permit was obtained. This permit allowed for site clearing and building pad work to commence once all of the environmental issues and permits had been obtained. By procuring different site clearing, foundation and finally the building permit for the project, this allowed certain construction activities to commence while design and permitting was being completed on other phases of the project. These measures that were taken during the early stages paved the way for the projects to be completed on time and under budget and for both projects to achieve LEED® gold certification.
Q: What were some of the lessons learned from this project? MM & GP: …The most important lesson that we can all learn from this project is that we are creating the fundamental foundation for educating our youth on environmental stewardship, which will impact many generations.
5700 Griffin Rd. Davie, FL 33314 954-797-0410 www.pirtleconstruction.com
The Architect’s Perspective with Jose Murguido, AIA, Vice President, Principal in Charge, Zyscovich Architects Q: What are some of the drivers behind the design? What design materials or concepts were used? JM: The partnership between the SDPBC and FAU provides ongoing environmental stewardship of the Pine Jog Nature Preserve. The site education curriculum utilizes the entire preserve with designed learning places in and around the structures that bring the outdoors inside and vice versa. These opportunities include butterfly gardens, water reuse demonstration areas, understanding solar paths and energy through the creation of an interactive sun dial area and “Solar Plaza,” mitigation/ restoration areas for older students to create themselves, and biological life cycle study areas of slash pines, gopher tortoises, native grasses, insects, lizards and other native amphibians. The site’s flora and fauna are reflected in the interior via the colors, graphics, patterns and images that make up the interior design motif. Building systems are exposed to further accentuate the connection between natural resource use, energy and material conservation, and the application of renewable energy systems. Students, staff and the greater community are able to interact with building performance information via the Internet through “green-screen” energy monitoring. Visitors to the Environmental Education Center can tour the school grounds, participate in site stewardship activities and learn from the interactive displays associated with each of the buildings’ renewable energy systems. The two-story construction, minimizing the footprint, consists of concrete tilt panels, cast-in-place concrete and a high albedo-coated metal roof to be responsive to the climatic environment as well as to utilize readily available regional materials in new ways. The interior design of the buildings is flexible to accommodate the school’s changing future needs. The building’s LEED® components include a 50 percent reduction in water use for irrigation and a 30 percent reduction for plumbing fixtures. Energy efficiency is achieved through reduced solar heat gain due to reflective roofing materials and windows and improved insulation values and wall assemblies. The systems integrate enhanced lighting controls with daylighting through large shaded windows and occupancy sensors, permitting the maximum efficiency of the enhanced exterior window daylighting to be realized. The buildings also have roof monitors, rainwater collection for plumbing and irrigation uses, a highly efficient central HVAC plant shared by the facilities, shared parking, photovoltaic panels, and solar hot water heaters. A comprehensive Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan ensured improved indoor air quality for building occupants. Parking is reserved for both fuel-efficient and carpool vehicles, encouraging not only employees, but parents and visitors to be conscious of the impact of automobile use. A Construction Waste Management Plan exceeded the intended goal and achieved a 75% diversion of waste from landfills. The building’s anticipated energy use is also offset through the additional purchase of green power.
Q: What are some of the lessons learned from this project? JM: The project changed the process of review and business in the district. Their strong commitment to green/sustainable construction practices is reflected in new policies for electronic submissions, replacing the formerly paper-intensive submission requirements. Another lesson learned is that simple systems can be used in new ways to keep material costs and maintenance needs low. Communication was also key to the success of the construction team in the field. Education of subcontractors and workforce personnel starts with daily communication, job signs and commitment through contractual obligations that the sustainable standards and goals for the project are being met.
Photo courtesy of Zyscovich, Inc.
100 N. Biscayne Blvd., 27th Floor Miami, FL 33132 305-372-5222 www.zyscovich.com
continued from page 3
steel with a high recycled content; a
ing. “We incorporated native foli-
located in the school’s main office
could see where the cold air and
highly reflective roofing membrane
age from around the grounds into
provides information regarding the
electricity comes from. “The system
and high-performance glazing wall
the design to make it truly one of
green components of the school
utilizing the touch-screen technol-
to reduce heat absorption, thereby
a kind,” added Paul McConnell,
as well as real-time information as
ogy will help educate teachers and
reducing cooling requirements and
president, and Matthew Weber,
to how the building is performing
students on the LEED® features and
overall building energy consump-
vice president of Diamond Shine
in relation to energy and water
each of the building’s renewable
tion; and polished concrete in vari-
International.
consumption, temperature and
energy systems,” said Gregory A.
ous areas throughout the facilities in
According to Mahoney and Pirtle,
humidity, on-site renewable ener-
Yuskanich, president of Wisch and
order to reduce maintenance costs
the project’s design innovation was
gy, and more. Two additional touch
Jackson Co. of Florida, Inc., the
and minimize the use of chemi-
that the buildings and their sys-
screens are located in the first-floor
project’s building automation con-
cals and waxes. Diamond Shine
tems can be used as teaching tools,
corridors outside the mechanical
tractor.
International LLC was responsible
bringing attention to sustainable
and electrical rooms, which were
“Moving ahead with the first
for providing the decorative pol-
design and the environment. For
designed with windows looking
innovative, green LEED® school
ished concrete floors in the build-
example, the flat-screen monitor
into them so the students and staff
building in a particular region is
Photo courtesy of Moris Moreno Photography
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gold medal award winner
challenging on a number of fronts,” said Colson and Grafton. To begin with, there was a perception that building green costs considerably more than the standard approach. Additionally, many LEED® points were simply not feasible because of the climate, and some regional materials were hard to find due to the project’s location on a peninsula. “The key factor for consistent proactive teamwork was the recognition of the importance of this pioneering project to subsequent design and construction in the school district,” they said. According to Jose Murguido, AIA, vice president, principal in charge for Zyscovich, another project challenge was that because LEED® is a relatively new building concept in South Florida it was difficult to find subcontractors with sustainable construction experience. Time was taken during the design phase
for covering ductwork and eliminat-
said Robert J. Kobet, AIA, LEED
very successfully achieved, is that
to help explain the LEED® require-
ing smoking from the interior of the
AP, president of Sustainaissance
the school and the environmen-
ments and components of the proj-
building construction area.
International, which served as the
tal center are ‘at one’ with the
ect, thus turning the challenge into
“The response to the Pine Jog
project’s green high-performance
site environment to the maximum
an opportunity for the develop-
projects by the public has been
school consultant and helped the
extent possible.” n
ment of jobsite and material stan-
very encouraging. Others in the
project team achieve LEED® certi-
dards to ensure the project goals for
district and neighboring districts are
fication.
LEED® certification were maintained
now inquiring about high-perfor-
Colson and Grafton added, “The
— from materials used to practices
mance green schools and LEED®,”
goal from the outset, which was
— Stacey Nathanson
Photos courtesy of Moris Moreno Photography
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