Hedrick Brothers Construction, West Palm Beach, FL, has reached substantial completion for the $28 million modernization of Gove Elementary School in Belle Glade, FL for the School District of Palm Beach County. The new 121,000 square foot, five building campus will accommodate 924 students. The school includes new classrooms, kitchen and cafeteria, administrative offices, media center, clinic, covered play area, playgrounds, playfield, bus loop, parent drop-off and pick-up, and parking. This LEED registered project is anticipating silver certification underneath LEED for Schools.
The LEED or “green” elements of the school include:
– Energy: The school adopted the use of ice storage to drastically reduce energy consumption. Ice is made overnight and is then used during the peak demand day time hours to cool the buildings, which reduces the electric bill.
– Energy: The concrete paving and light colored roofing (high SRI) material reduce heat absorption.
– Energy: Low e-glazing on the windows reduce energy costs, and the classrooms have occupancy sensors for the lights and air conditioning which turn off when the room is not occupied.
– Indoor Environmental Quality and Enhanced Energy Performance: The school maximizes day lighting for classrooms through the building’s orientation and light shelves to bounce light farther into the space.
– Water efficiency: All of the bathrooms conserve water through low flow toilets, waterless urinals and flow restriction faucets. The landscaping on campus consists of native species which require less watering. Retention ponds on site hold rainwater runoff in order to minimize impact to the surrounding areas.
– Materials & Resources: The use of natural materials including Forbo Marmoleum, a rapidly renewable flooring material composed of 100% bio-based materials, provides a healthy environment for students to learn and play. Also this product will not need to be waxed, further reducing the use of chemicals in the school.
– Materials & Resources: Over 75% of construction waste has been diverted from landfills and sent to recycling facilities.
The architectural team was MPA Architects and Tercilla Courtemanche Architects, West Palm Beach, FL.