Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
Arlington’s Third Net-Zero Energy School Scheduled to open in September 2021 as VMDO’s third net-zero energy (NZE) school in Arlington, Cardinal Elementary School sets new standards for design excellence in sustainability, energy performance, and innovative learning environments for Arlington Public Schools. Cardinal Elementary follows in the footsteps of the NZE milestone established by Discovery Elementary and the four-story NZE school precedent established by Fleet Elementary. However, different from these previous projects, Cardinal is actually an addition to an existing school and library and features a significant renovation scope that optimizes existing building stock to achieve net-zero energy. Building on lessons learned in NZE design and construction, this project features the lowest embodied energy of VMDO’s previous NZE projects. Undergoing an intensive year-long community engagement process, Cardinal Elementary reflects the often-repeated desire among Arlington residents to “build up and not out.” A fully accessible walkway stretching around the perimeter of the school includes space for outdoor classrooms alongside new fields and playgrounds that are open to community use outside of school hours. The addition includes school administrative offices, classrooms, a gymnasium, kitchen, cafeteria, and teacher support areas. The renovated areas include new music/art rooms, a library, classrooms, teacher support areas, and other building support spaces.
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Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
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Anytime, Anywhere Learning The design includes a variety of learning spaces that articulate the positive relationships between pedagogy, community engagement, modern architecture, and educational landscape strategies that promote health, accessibility, and collaboration. The connection between spaces inside and outside the building occur in a variety of ways to activate sensory responses and provide views, daylighting, and access to the outdoors. Specialized learning classrooms and extended learning areas are interwoven throughout the school to provide programmatic flexibility in supporting individual needs while fostering an enduring sense of learning as a community. The design of the school responds to the existing neighborhood context and will give back to the community in energy savings and improved, shared spaces.
Project Data
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Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
Owner’s Rep: CBRE Heery CM at Risk: Gilbane Completion: 2021 Size: 111,974 GSF Capacity: 825 Students GMP: $42,617,291 Trade Costs: $36,792,477
Predicted EUI: 15.9 Number of Ground Source Wells: 77 Number of on-site Parking Spots: 124 (52 New) Total Increase to Imprevious Area: 6% Photovoltaic System Total Capacity of System: 448.5 kW DC CardinalTotal Elementary Arlington 5 NumberSchool of Panels: 1196 Public Schools Est. First Year Annual Production: 588,063 kWh DC
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Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
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Art
Library
Level 1 — Grades Pre-K + Kindergarten
RENOVATED
N
Level 3/4 — Grades 2 + 3 (Level 3) / Grades 4 + 5 (Level 4)
NEW CONSTRUCTION
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Floor Plan Legend Mechanical, Toilets, Storage
Music Kitchen
Circulation, Breakout Space
Music
Library, Dining Commons
Dining Music
Gym + Stage
Art
Small Group Instruction
Dining
Classroom Art + Music Staff Support, Office, Admin. Level 2 — Grade 1
Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
RENOVATED
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools N
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The new design provides world-class learning environments for future students, including bringing natural light into spaces whenever possible. The committee especially appreciates VMDO’s flexible and versatile designs which allow reconfiguration of classroom and shared spaces, ensuring the new building can serve future, unplanned demands and uses. VMDO’s experience with educational spaces and attention to detail is obvious throughout the design. Hans Bauman Chair of Building Level Planning Committee (BLPC) for Cardinal Elementary 10
Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
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Every Space is a Learning Place The layout accommodates the need for flexibility as educational methods and practices evolve to allow more opportunities for personalized learning experiences. A variety of space types – classrooms, hubs, team rooms, conference rooms, nooks and crannies, and outdoor classrooms – foster collaboration, interaction, innovation, and invention. Designed as a living lab for sustainable practices, Cardinal Elementary School encourages creativity, curiosity, and joy within an actively engaged community.
Wayfinding strategy which aligns continents with the solar orientation of the building
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Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
Building-as-Teaching-Tool: Mapping the Potomac River and local topography as a feature wall
Cardinal Elementary School Arlington Public Schools
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VMDO Architects vmdo.com | 434.296.5684 200 E Market St Charlottesville, VA 22902 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 7000 Washington, DC 20006
For more information on K-12 work, please contact: Wyck Knox, AIA, LEED AP BD+C knox@vmdo.com Rob Winstead, AIA, ALEP, LEED AP BD+C winstead@vmdo.com