Project Description
The Environmental Nature Center Preschool is the second LEED Platinum Net Zero building on ENC’s 4.7-acre campus in Newport Beach. The new 8,000-square-foot, three-classroom building has been designed to complement the existing ENC facility while giving form to its program. The program has been organized into separate support and classroom blocks connected by a covered Breezeway.
The Breezeway promotes natural ventilation taking advantage of the coastal climate: the spaces will not have a conventional HVAC system using instead natural ventilation and efficient ceiling fans to enhance air movement when needed. A radiant floor heating system will provide low energy, mild heating as required. Like the existing ENC building, active and passive sustainable approaches are key in minimizing the energy demand for the preschool making the installation of the photovoltaic rooftop system affordable in achieving a net zero building. The project is also pursuing Living Building Challenge petal certification.