A new 22,000-sf expansion project on Sonoma Academy’s 34-acre campus at the base of Taylor Mountain will add key academic, social, and cultural spaces to the independent college prep high school. The two-level education facility will act as the first of a two-phase campus transformation project.
San Francisco-based WRNS Studio designed the project to help achieve Sonoma Academy’s vision of creating a campus that will teach students about social, environmental, and food justice while fostering a hands-on teaching philosophy. The two-level facility is known as Grange & Studios. The top floor, which represents “The Grange” of Grange & Studios, has a teaching and commercial kitchen with a dining hall and outdoor learning spaces with flower, herb, and fruit tree gardens. The lower level, The Studios, has traditional STEM-inspire shops, art classrooms, technology rooms, media production studios, offices, and meeting spaces. The facility also has a vegetation-covered rooftop.
The green roof and cascading planters filter stormwater and rain water while a geo-exchange system, watershed block made with local soil, and photovoltaic panels to produce enough energy to offset the demand by over 15% mean that, when completed in July 2017, the buildings will be LEED Platinum, an Education Pilot for Well Building, and a Living Building Challenge candidate.
The second phase of the project will be focused on a new 450-seat performing arts theater and conservatory. Funding for the project has been provided entirely by private donations.
Related Stories
| Mar 20, 2013
Folding glass walls revitalize student center
Single-glazed storefronts in the student center at California’s West Valley College were replaced with aluminum-framed, thermally broken windows from NanaWall in a bronze finish that emulates the look of the original building.
| Mar 15, 2013
Singapore R&D campus takes top honor in Lab of Year competition
Singapore CREATE R&D campus takes top honor in Lab of Year competition, sponsored by R&D Magazine.
| Mar 14, 2013
25 cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings
Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago top EPA's list of the U.S. cities with the greatest number of Energy Star certified buildings in 2012.
| Mar 14, 2013
How to win more work from community colleges
The nation’s thousand-plus community college districts can be a steady source of income for your Building Team—provided you appreciate the special needs of this important sector of the higher education market.
Building Enclosure Systems | Mar 13, 2013
5 novel architectural applications for metal mesh screen systems
From folding façades to colorful LED displays, these fantastical projects show off the architectural possibilities of wire mesh and perforated metal panel technology.
| Feb 25, 2013
10 U.S. cities with the best urban forests
Charlotte, Denver, and Milwaukee are among 10 U.S. cities ranked recently by the conservation organization American Forests for having quality urban forest programs.
| Feb 17, 2013
Suffolk University’s $62 million academic building gets the go-ahead
The Boston Redevelopment Authority board yesterday unanimously approved Suffolk University’s plans to move forward with a new campus building at 20 Somerset St. that will feature general-use and science classrooms, a light-filled cafeteria/function space, and indoor and outdoor lounging areas.
| Feb 6, 2013
George W. Bush Presidential Center among award-winning roofing projects honored by Sika Sarnafil
Winners of the 2012 Contractor Project of the Year Competition were announced this week by Sika Sarnafil. The annual competition highlights excellence in roofing installation. Roofing contractors are judged based on project complexity, design uniqueness, craftsmanship, and creative problem solving.
| Feb 5, 2013
8 eye-popping wood building projects
From 100-foot roof spans to novel reclaimed wood installations, the winners of the 2013 National Wood Design Awards push the envelope in wood design.
