(F03) The Evolution of Net-Zero Energy Schools – A Comparative Analysis of Three Zero Energy Projects Designed by VMDO Architects

In 2015, Arlington Public Schools (APS) opened Discovery Elementary School. The 98,000 square foot, two-story school leveraged insulated concrete form construction and, at the time, was the largest verified Net Zero Energy Building in North America. It went on to become the first LEED Zero school project. In 2019, Arlington opened Alice West Fleet Elementary School. An extremely constrained site required a compact four-story building above two levels of structured parking. The 111,500 square foot school includes a steel and wood structure and spray foam insulation. In 2021, Arlington opened Cardinal Elementary School. An addition to an existing building, the project includes 18,500 square feet of renovation and relies on mineral wool insulation and a vapor-permeable air barrier. The project will be the latest Zero Energy ready school in the Arlington portfolio. These three projects have the same climate, are operated by the same Owner, and are similar in size, population, schedule, and program. That said, each school is a unique and specific solution to site, context, and community needs. And each is part of a process of continuous improvement that has changed expectations across the district and the region and made Zero Energy more attainable and attractive to more diverse audiences. What have we learned from these three Zero Energy projects and more than a decade of pursuing aspirational performance goals? What strategies have worked well? What are the benefits of verification systems like LEED Zero? Where do we go from here? How can we leverage the data set and lessons learned from these projects to advance the industry? This session will bring together APS district leadership, building users, a USGBC Center for Green Schools representative, and the A/E team to explore these questions.