2025 East Best Projects
Best K-12 Education, Excellence in Sustainability: John Francis Education Campus
John Francis Education Campus
Washington D.C.
BEST PROJECT, K-12 EDUCATION, and EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY
Submitted by MCN Build
Owners: D.C. Dept. of General Services, D.C. Public Schools
Lead Design Firm: Perkins Eastman D.C.
General Contractor: MCN Build
Civil Engineer: Bowman Consulting
Structural Engineer: Bill Yun and Associates
MEP Engineer: Setty
The two-year, $100-million modernization program transformed a historic pre-K through 8th-grade public school into a state-of-the-art, sustainable learning environment. The 143,080-sq-ft project included the full renovation of the original school building and construction of two contemporary additions that provide expanded instructional and student support spaces. Together, the elements create an inspiring campus that blends heritage with innovation.
Biophilic design principles are central to the indoor environment, with the landscape thoughtfully integrated to strengthen students’ relationship with the natural world. A meandering path connects green spaces, play areas and seating, while vegetable planters provide students with hands-on experiences that deepen their understanding of the food cycle. Additionally, native plantings and a pollinator garden enhance biodiversity and support local ecosystems.
Photo by Joseph Romeo, courtesy of MCN Build
One of the project’s core sustainability efforts was reuse of more than 90% of the building’s existing structural elements, significantly reducing its embodied carbon. The building envelope was retrofitted with high-performance insulation, double-glazed windows and enhanced air sealing. Sunshades in key areas will help minimize solar heat gain and glare, improving comfort and energy performance.
Photo by Joseph Romeo, courtesy of MCN Build
A geothermal heat pump serves the majority of heating and cooling needs, with a small supplemental cooling tower included to accommodate site constraints. More than two-thirds of the building’s energy use will be offset via rooftop solar panels procured through a power purchase agreement.
Photo by Joseph Romeo, courtesy of MCN Build
Construction was well underway when a critical adjacent property intended for geothermal well fields suddenly became unavailable. The project team acted quickly to redesign the mechanical system, including building-wide infrastructure upgrades, revised equipment locations and recalculated structural loads. Within a week, cross-discipline collaboration had yielded a new design that was more efficient and ultimately more cost-effective than the original. Despite the disruption, the team recovered lost time, avoided unnecessary costs and maintained momentum, completing the project on schedule and below budget.
