(E08) Raymond Elementary School - Net Zero Energy, LEED BD+C v4 and WELL v2 for a historic building in an urban setting

MCN Build, STUDIOS Architecture, Global Engineering Solutions, and Baumann Consulting worked as a design-build team with DC DGS and DC Public Schools on the full modernization and expansion of the historic Raymond Elementary School. This session will discuss the opportunities and challenges of converting an historic building in an urban setting to a net zero energy school, while achieving a WELL and LEED certification.
The design maintains the historic building from the 1920s and removes the existing 1960s addition to create a new entrance and new wing housing a gymnasium, library, and classrooms, as well as, enhancing the courtyard for outdoor education and play.
In order to meet design, programmatic, sustainability goals, and construction goals of the project, the design build project delivery was critical to the process. The team worked iteratively both balancing competing interests within the design-build teams but also with historic goals, owner’s needs, and stakeholder goals.
The project goals included achieving the highest levels of sustainability including WELL, LEED Gold and Net Zero Energy. The session will discuss how synergies between those sustainability goals were identified and utilized. The Net Zero Energy goal required significant changes to the façade at the historic building to improve the overall performance of its existing envelope. Automatic shading systems combined with demand controlled systems minimize energy usage. The remaining energy consumption of the building is offset by the geothermal system and highly efficient solar canopies for on-site power generation.
Construction of the project involved several challenges such as the structural integrity of the historic building, its air tightness, space constraints and unforeseen cost increase.