APS Celebrates Prestigious Design Award

NEWS RELEASE # 85
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2011

 

APS CELEBRATES PRESTIGIOUS DESIGN AWARD
LEED Gold Certification for Vista PEAK P-8

Aurora Public Schools’ new Vista PEAK Exploratory P-8 school has earned LEED® Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system. The Vista PEAK project is the first LEED designation awarded to the district.

The 100,000-square foot, two-story building features two wings, each with eight core curriculum classrooms on each floor. Specialized classrooms, a gymnasium and a cafeteria are located off the central core of the building. The project’s LEED features include daylighting in classrooms and other instructional spaces, an energy efficient mechanical system and building envelope, a low water use site design, and a healthy indoor environment through the use of low or no VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) products.

“Aurora Public Schools is excited to accept its first LEED certification,” said Amy Spatz, APS Design & Construction Manager. “We began the process hoping for a basic certification and were pleased to achieve Gold. We found that many of the project’s sustainability goals involved strategies that we typically apply on projects, but we also discovered how even small changes in our approach to design and construction could significantly improve the sustainability of the finished project.”

By setting design and construction goals early in project planning, the Vista PEAK project team recycled more than 76 percent of construction waste. The team also expects the completed building to use resources and energy more efficiently—with an estimated 40 percent reduction in water usage and a 44 percent reduction in energy consumption, compared to a typical building of this size.

Vista PEAK’s green building design also provides an exceptional teaching tool.  Building design information and real time energy data is displayed on a “Green Touch Screen” located in the school lobby. Teachers and students can also access this information online for classroom curriculum. To see how the building is performing, visit http://p8.aurora.greentouchscreen.com/.

The Vista PEAK project team included APS Design & Construction; APS Maintenance and Operations; SLATERPAULL/RB+B, a joint venture; JVA Consulting Engineers; Design Concepts; REI Structural; Envision Mechanical Engineers; MKK Consulting Engineers; Architectural Energy Corporation; FCI Construction; and the Institute for the Built Environment at Colorado State University. Funding for design assistance was provided by Xcel Energy’s Energy Design Assistance Program.

Vista PEAK Exploratory P-8 is one of several construction projects made possible by bond funds approved by APS voters in 2008. The school is part of the APS P-20 Campus, which provides a seamless and integrated education experience for students from preschool through higher education. Vista PEAK Preparatory (high school) is currently under construction on the same campus. For more information about the Vista PEAK campus, visit vistapeak.aurorak12.org.

The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.  LEED certified schools save money for taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for students, staff and the larger community. The LEED Rating System guides design decisions and rates building performance across five main categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation in Design.

Award Presentation: The Vista PEAK project team will be recognized for the LEED award at the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education meeting on June 7. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Dr. Ed Lord and Patricia Lord Board Room, Educational Services Center-4, 1085 Peoria Street.

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Interested media may contact APS Bond Communication Specialist
Rebecca Herbst at 303-326-2182 for more information