The $190-million, 343,000- sq-ft school features an innovative pinwheel design that creates a central hub surrounded by learning neighborhoods, distributed science and career technical education labs, decentralized dining areas and both centralized and distributed administration offices.

The facility’s sustainable design represents one of the nation’s first Net Zero Ready high schools, with cutting-edge energy efficiency technologies such as geothermal wells, an exceptional building envelope that minimizes thermal bridging, state-of-the-art insulation systems, high-performance windows and doors and smart building controls that optimize energy use in real time.

Photo by Judy Davis, courtesy Gilbane Building

In addition, an innovative dual heating system for the aquatics center combines traditional boilers with geothermal technology—an unprecedented integration at this scale for a school natatorium.

The solar photovoltaic array is designed to position the school for evolving energy standards. Although unforeseen utility issues required resequencing of the construction phase, the project was completed ahead of schedule and at budget.

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