by jbs051809 e3 — May 20, 2009—The 2009 winners of the annual School of the Future Design Competition were announced recently in Washington, D.C. Middle school students across the country participated in the competition sponsored by the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) and the National Association of Realtors, along with the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Institute of Architects, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, and more than 30 organizations and private companies.
The winners’ innovative sustainable design ideas include:
- Choosing an abandoned neighborhood site to construct their school using recycled building materials from a vacant building;
- Including a wetland, composting areas, and grey water recycling as well as the use of recycled jeans for insulation;
- Sharing a sports fields with the community, as well as access to the school’s computer labs, gym, library, and auditorium;
- Utilizing leading-edge technology: issuing “I-Touch” computers to every student, and creating “smart glass” room dividers, “smart bricks,” and a student “smart card” containing a GPS chip for building access;
- Designing expanding and contracting classrooms to accommodate team teaching and provide for growth in student population;
- Incorporating rainwater gardens, solar panels, and wind turbines;
- Using recycled materials, geothermal heating and air conditioning, solar hot water heaters, and triple-pane glass;
- Incorporating a geodesic dome housing a roof deck area with unique “Pedal Power” bicycles to supply the building’s electricity;
- Using a green roof as an outdoor classroom for the study of biology and ecology, including a garden to grow plants for the school’s landscaping and organic vegetables for their cafeteria; and a second green roof to house the football field, with a swimming pool located beneath.
The Award of Excellence went to Imago Dei Middle School, Tucson, Arizona; Explorer Middle School, Everett, Washington, came in second. Seneca Middle School, Macomb, Michigan and The Gereau Center, Rocky Mount, Virginia, tied for third place. Awards of commendation were presented to Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, Old Lyme, Connecticut, and Charles Hart Middle School, Washington, D.C.
For more information, see the Web site.
