Inspirational places empower educational programs. Two new additions to Powell Elementary School, bring a historic building into the 21st Century.  Sustainable strategies are built into this LEED-S Gold building, because a healthy school is a healthy learning environment. Three key concepts of the design are outdoor programming, daylighting, and fresh air.

Outdoor programming for urban schools must balance the needs for versatile programs, play spaces and treating storm water. By building the additions around the playing field, each classroom has direct access to the field and roof top gardens.

Angled perforated louvers optimize daylight, reduce glare, and provide controlled views. Clerestory glazing draws natural light into larger, centralized spaces. 

This project designed the first solar chimney in a DC public school.  The chimneys, located in classrooms, bring in fresh air and natural ventilation, and switch the mechanical system into passive mode to teach students the physics of the stack effect.