Details
Overview
Considered the key component to the Zeeland Public Schools 2010 $20.3 million bond issue proposal, the district’s new Adams Elementary School was designed and constructed to serve up to 300 K-5 students in the southern reaches of this rapidly growing school district.
Referred to as the “footprint,” close attention was paid to the layout of the site and the building in Phase 1 to accommodate growth before construction had even started on this $7.27 million school. Based upon a prototype previously constructed by the district, this single-story, brick and block construction with sloped joists and deck and shingled roof hosts 12 classrooms, a media center, multi-purpose room, administrative offices, mechanical rooms, and several other ancillary spaces. Phase II will incorporate additional classrooms and a gymnasium.
The building materials selected pays tribute to the area’s deep family farming heritage, the surrounding residential neighborhood, and provides a healthy and familiar learning environment. Salvaged wood from an old barn and the masonry from an old silo was repurposed and used throughout the school.
Particular focus was placed on the state-of-the art mechanical and electrical systems–closed-loop geothermal and chilled-beam technology. The building is equipped with ceiling-mounted, active induction beams; central dual wheel energy recovery units; and heat pumps. A central horizontal geothermal field with over five miles of underground pipe is the source for earth-coupled energy, creating a system approximately 55% more efficient than current state energy code base building systems.
This building was designated to be the district’s first pursuit of Silver certification in the US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program.