[CSDA] civic.

• Position: Colorado Sustainable Design Awards

1st PLACE

Douglas County Elementary School Prototype

Architect: RB+B/Hutton Architects LLC

SUSTAINABLE FEATURES

* The design maximizes the potential for daylight in the classrooms when the building is oriented on an east-west axis, with the classrooms facing north-south.

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* Shaping ceilings distribute the window daylight evenly. Second-floor spaces are supported by nearly 100 tubular daylight devices. The end result is glare-free space that rarely uses the photocell-controlled electric lighting.

* The target for energy use is nearly 60 percent below the average for Douglas County schools.

* Several schools share artificial turf fields with local park districts, reducing water use and optimizing public open space.

* Low-flow toilet fixtures with infrared shutoffs minimize the impact of 650 students using the school over the course of the school day.

OVERVIEW

This 71,000-square-foot school was built on a 10-acre site in Douglas County for $ 12.25 million. As one of the fastest-growing countries in the country, the Douglas Country School District needed to build 11 elementary school to meet its growing demand.

This design for an affordable, sustainable elementary school reduces energy consumption, lowers utility costs, improves indoor air quality and enhances students' learning.

A central part of the design was the development of thematic landscape elements for each school that draw on local history and character or reflect the specific curriculum of each school.

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JUDGES' COMMENTS

THE IDEA OF A PROTOTYPE IS OFTEN TALKED ABOUT BUT RARELY IMPLEMENTED IN SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES. THIS PROJECT HAD SOME WELL-DEFINED METRICS AROUND ENERGY USE (KBTU/SF, % REDUCTION), AND INCLUDED PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURALLY INTELLIGENT SHADING THAT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF COLORADO'S SUNNY ENVIRONMENT TO LIGHT CLASSROOMS WITHOUT INTRODUCING GLARE OR UNWANTED HEAT."

2nd PLACE

Aspen Middle School

Architect: RB+B/Hutton Architects LLC

SUSTAINABLE FEATURES

* Daylighting strategies include the use of exterior sun shades, interior daylighting devices, lighting controls and high-performance glazing.

* Operable windows and daylighting throughout could easily allow the building to function without power.

* Low-flow plumbing fixtures were used throughout the building, including dual-flush toilets, waterless urinals and infrared-sensing faucets.

* About half of the construction waste was diverted from the landfill and...