The recently completed Prairie Activity and Recreation Center (PARC) in Plainfield, Ill., is projected to be the first building of its kind to achieve the Passive House Institute US PHIUS+ Source Zero certification.
Designed as a net zero facility, the two-story, 37,000-sf building features a 4,000-sf fitness center and studio with a full-size basketball court, an elevated 10-lap walking track, a 1,600-sf multi-purpose room for classes and special events, and a preschool suite. The preschool suite includes a dedicated reception area and entrance and four classrooms with high windows and “look nooks” (low picture windows that connect the children to the natural surroundings outside).
The PARC is 65% more efficient than a conventional commercial building of the same size in a similar climate. It includes a 28,600-sf solar array and a highly insulating building envelope. A Building Performance monitor at the front entry will share building energy use and solar energy production information with visitors.
Exterior building features include LED site lighting, rain gardens, native landscaping, parking for 110 vehicles, a recreation patio for the preschool, and walking trails. The PARC is the newest addition to the Bott Park complex, which includes a playground, ball fields, and soccer fields.
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