Project Description
Organic architectural qualities manifest themselves in the variety of wood species and in the play of fabricated and natural tree forms in this 6,211-square-foot classroom for an independent high school. The wood structure, fabricated from sustainable, locally-sourced materials, defines the composition, designed to visually simulate a forest setting. Glulam beams tie into solid-wood, tree-shaped columns surrounded by pine, hemlock and cedar wall panels and ceiling rafters. Building modules for the structure were manufactured off site, where temperature and humidity could be closely controlled. This allowed the fabricator to achieve tight tolerances, which reduced gaps and improved energy efficiency. The modules were then moved to the construction site and installed, resulting in the lowest possible impact to the site’s ecology. Awarded LEED Platinum certification, the building also achieved Net-Zero Energy status; through the use of solar panels and energy-efficient technologies, it currently produces more energy than it consumes.