California’s eco-hub receives AIA awards for energy-efficient, sustainable design

The Nueva School’s Science and Environmental Center (SEC) Receives Prestigious Awards for Sustainable Design

The Nueva School’s Science and Environmental Center (SEC) in Hillsborough, California, has been honored with the 2023 American Institute of Architects (AIA) COTE Top Ten Award and the 2022 AIA National Education Facility Design Award, for its exceptional design highlighting sustainability, energy efficiency, water conservation, site integration, and resiliency.

Design and Location

Designed by the firm, Leddy Matum Stacy Architects (LSA Architects), the SEC is situated on the Nueva School’s 13.4-ha (33-acre) campus in the semi-rural coastal hills of the San Francisco Peninsula. The campus boasts a thriving coastal live oak woodland ecosystem, diverse structures, and breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay.

Facilities and Functionality

Covering 1,078 m² (11,600 sf), the SEC supports the Nueva School’s environmental citizenship program, offering eight science labs and associated spaces for interdisciplinary learning from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. Functioning as a living lab, the center enables students to engage with sustainability practices, conduct environmental studies, and brainstorm solutions to various challenges.

Sustainable Features

• A high-performance building envelope minimizes thermal bridging, enhancing interior thermal comfort with substantial R values at the roof and walls.
• The building’s energy use intensity (EUI) is reduced to 23, a 71 percent decrease from the baseline, thanks to efficient building systems and envelope design.
• A 70 kW photovoltaic (PV) array on the roof offsets the building’s energy consumption year-round, surpassing expectations with a 2021 energy production of 93,941 kWh—a 17 percent increase from the anticipated 80,200 kWh.
• The building’s exterior wall and roof designs incorporate insulation to reduce thermal bridging, achieving overall assembly R-values of R-24 and R-50, respectively.
• Notable glazing properties include 0.28 U-value, 0.27 SHGC, and 0.65 VLT.
• The SEC utilizes an all-electric heat pump system for in-floor radiant hydronic heating, ceiling fans, and natural ventilation to maintain comfortable indoor conditions.
• Energy recovery ventilators ensure 100 percent outside air when classrooms are occupied, contributing to a 49 percent reduction in light-emitting diode (LED) lighting power density.
• The SEC aims for net-zero operational energy and carbon, producing all consumed energy on-site.

Water Conservation

To address California’s frequent droughts, the SEC incorporates advanced water conservation measures:

• A 37,854-L (10,000-gal) storage tank for toilet reuse.
• A rainwater harvesting system.
• Drought-tolerant landscaping.

These measures reduce potable water use by 89 percent compared to the baseline.

Integration with the Environment

The SEC aligns with the hillside, minimizing excavation and optimizing outdoor education areas. The slim floor plate reduces disruption to natural features while maximizing daylight and natural ventilation in classrooms. The SEC connects the campus to the surrounding forested open space, with a “Canopy Walk” providing access for students to experience the oak woodland ecology.

Materials and Safety

Materials in the SEC were selected for economy, durability, and resource efficiency, incorporating wood and recycled materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The building’s flexible design allows for short-term adaptability to evolving curricula and technologies, with an eye toward potential long-term uses. The SEC’s seismic resilience and fire-resistant construction demonstrate a commitment to long-term safety.

Sustainable Education

The Nueva School has received the National Green Ribbon School designation from the U.S. Department of Education, recognizing its resource efficiency, health and wellness attributes, and commitment to sustainable education.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
   • Indicator: The SEC supports the Nueva School’s environmental citizenship program, offering science labs and interdisciplinary learning spaces for sustainable education.

2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Indicator: The SEC incorporates a 70 kW photovoltaic (PV) array on the roof to offset the building’s energy consumption, surpassing energy production expectations.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
   • Indicator: The SEC’s design incorporates energy-efficient building systems, envelope design, and insulation to reduce thermal bridging and achieve high R-values for thermal comfort.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
   • Indicator: The SEC’s design aligns with the hillside, minimizing excavation and optimizing outdoor education areas, while also connecting the campus to the surrounding forested open space.

5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • Indicator: The SEC’s materials were selected for economy, durability, and resource efficiency, incorporating wood and recycled materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

6. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • Indicator: The SEC aims for net-zero operational energy and carbon, producing all consumed energy on-site.

7. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
   • Indicator: The SEC’s design minimizes disruption to natural features, maximizes daylight and natural ventilation in classrooms, and provides access for students to experience the oak woodland ecology.

8. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources.
   • Indicator: The Nueva School has received the National Green Ribbon School designation from the U.S. Department of Education, recognizing its commitment to sustainable education.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators