Responsible stewardship, citizenship and community service are core elements of the mission of Atlanta’s St. Martin’s Episcopal School. These values permeate every element of the school and are embodied in the sustainable design and construction of a major expansion of the school’s facilities.
Evergreen Construction, serving as Construction Manager, is working with St. Martin’s administration as well as Program Manager, Richmond Sterling, and Collins Cooper Carusi Architects to ensure that the completed project achieves the project’s programming and sustainability objectives. The project, which features a new Middle School building as well as extensive renovations to the existing campus buildings and site, has been designed to not only meet the needs of a growing school but to do so in a manner that supports St. Martin’s commitment to stewardship, citizenship and community service.
Targeted to achieve LEED Silver certification, the $8 million project’s most prominent component is a new 3-story, 40,758-sf Middle School building enabling St. Martin’s to not only accommodate future growth but also consolidate its Middle School, into a single facility. Extensive renovations to the existing facilities will also ensure that K-5 students are housed together in a single building.
St. Martin’s goal of immediate and sustainable environmental sensitivity is clear in both the design and construction of the project. The design maximized the current space by redeveloping an existing plot and incorporating a number of sustainable features including a vegetated roof garden with a rainwater collection system, reducing the building’s “heat island’ effect.
Additional sustainable features include full-cutoff LED site light fixtures which eliminate light pollution and automated interior light, water and energy systems. The fully implemented systems are designed to reduce water consumption by 30% and overall energy consumption by 21% as compared to non-green buildings of similar type and size. Steps have also been taken to ensure that the site supports a sustainable environment through the installation of synthetic turf playfields, low impact landscaping and reserved/marked parking for low emission and fuel-efficient vehicles.
Evergreen Construction’s approach will provide immediate environmental benefits by recycling over 75% of construction waste, ensuring it never reaches a landfill. Evergreen will also utilize regional materials; with over 20% of the total construction materials coming from regional sources. Additionally, recycled materials will comprise more than 20% of the construction materials used by Evergreen in the project.
The facility, when completed, will enable St. Martin to meet the growing demand from families who want to experience the comprehensive and rigorous academic curriculum offered within a loving environment that nurtures the child’s spiritual and intellectual growth.
The newly constructed Middle School Building will feature state of the art classrooms, laboratories and administrative spaces while the existing facilities will undergo a major transformation. Once renovations are completed, K-5 students will find updated computer, science and media labs, a refurbished cafeteria/kitchen, locker rooms, administrative offices, as well as, a music/movement/room, the library and outdoor spaces including an enhanced outdoor amphitheater. BD+C
Related Stories
| Jan 16, 2015
Artsy lifeguard stations will brighten Toronto’s snowy beach
Five winning designs have been unveiled for lifeguard stands that will double as public space art installations on Toronto's beach.
| Jan 16, 2015
New York City construction costs continue to climb
A study released by the New York Building Congress shows that construction costs in Manhattan have risen 5% in each of the last two years.
| Jan 15, 2015
A reconstructed Taliesin West is the largest Frank Lloyd Wright LEGO Model [slideshow]
Artist Adam Reed Tucker used 180,000 LEGO pieces and 420 hours of work to recreate Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West campus.
| Jan 15, 2015
Construction materials prices fall in November
Construction input prices dipped 1.4% during the final month of 2014 and are down nearly 1% on a year-over-year basis, according to the Jan. 15 producer price index release from the U.S. Department of Labor.
| Jan 15, 2015
Libeskind unveils 'zig zag' plan for recreational center near Vilnius ski area
Perched on the highest peak between Vilnius' historic quarter and downtown, the Vilnius Beacon will be a hub for visiting skiers and outdoor enthusiasts.
| Jan 15, 2015
Illustrations capture essence of Aalto, Ando, Hadid, Foster, and other famous architects [slideshow]
The illustrations are Federico Babina's abstract interpretations of the styles of famous architects, from Frank Lloyd Wright to Bjarke Ingels.
| Jan 14, 2015
10 change management practices that can ease workplace moves
No matter the level of complexity, workplace change can be a challenge for your client's employees. VOA's Angie Lee breaks down the process of moving offices as efficiently as possible, from creating a "change team" to hosting hard-hat tours.
| Jan 13, 2015
Steven Holl unveils design for $450 million redevelopment of Houston's Museum of Fine Arts
Holl designed the campus’ north side to be a pedestrian-centered cultural hub on a lively landscape with ample underground parking.
| Jan 12, 2015
23 projects win AIA's highest architecture award
Bjarke Ingels' Danish Maritime Museum and William Rawn's Cambridge Public Library are among the winning projects.
| Jan 9, 2015
Santiago Calatrava talks with BBC about St. Nicholas Church on Ground Zero
Calatrava reveals that he wanted to retain the “tiny home” feel of the original church building that was destroyed with the twin towers on 9/11.