Building Sustainability on Campus

VMDO has designed several net zero energy buildings including, notably, the first LEED Zero school in the world (Discovery Elementary School), what is expected to be the largest net zero energy building in the U.S. (Alice West Fleet Elementary School), and what is expected to be the first net zero energy community center in Washington, DC (Stead Park Recreation Center).

According to the National Buildings Institute’s annual Getting to Zero report, net zero energy schools and municipal buildings have been increasing in number across the country, yet higher education facilities have tended to lag in comparison. The Woodrow W. Bolick Advanced Technology + Student Success Center is helping to set the bar for building sustainability in higher education while implementing pragmatic clean energy solutions that double as teaching tools for students.

Drawing from a menu of energy saving measures, the final building design archives an EUI of 37.6 -- a 68% energy reduction compared to other buildings of its type before renewables. With the energy saving measures, like the improved thermal performance of the exterior wall, a 20% window/wall ratio, and a ground source heat pump, the building needed a far reduced PV array in order to be self sustaining.