Sustainability Report

The project incorporates several strategies that contribute to reducing embodied carbon:

• A compact three-story design minimizes the building footprint and reduces site disturbance.
• Increased building height accommodates the full program within a smaller envelope than a conventional two-storey school.
• Reduced exposed surface area lowers material demand for the building envelope.
• Extensive use of locally sourced materials, including brick, wood, and aluminum, reduces transportation-related emissions.
• Integration of solid maple and wood veneer in interior elements introduces biogenic carbon storage.
• Durable materials were selected to extend service life and reduce replacement frequency.
• Standardized and demountable components, particularly the sunshades, support future reuse and material recovery.

The project adopts a predominantly passive environmental strategy designed to reduce energy demand.

• Compact building form reduces heat loss and heat gain.
• U-shaped massing creates a protected courtyard and improves microclimatic conditions.
• Building orientation maximizes daylight access.
• Cross-ventilation opportunities reduce dependence on mechanical cooling.
• Extensive solar studies informed façade design.
• Generous canopies reduce unwanted solar gain.
• Demountable exterior sunshades mitigate glare and overheating.
• Geothermal energy provides renewable heating and cooling.
• Landscaped areas and tree planting reduce localized heat-island effects.

The project includes several measures that reduce maintenance-related emissions:

• Selection of durable materials such as brick, aluminum, and hardwood.
• Exterior aluminum components have long service lives and require minimal maintenance.
• Standardized sunshades can be repaired, relocated, or reused rather than replaced.
• Flexible classroom layouts reduce the need for future renovation works.
• Demountable atrium guardrails facilitate modifications while preserving materials.
• Long-life materials decrease replacement cycles and associated embodied emissions.