Bulverde Green Elementary School

1. 2008 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture Bulverde Green Elementary School San Antonio, Texas Elementary School Design Concept Pfluger Associates Architects

2. Bulverde Green Elementary School

3. Sustainable Mission Community Environment: North East Independent School District serves an area of San Antonio, Texas that is experiencing rapid growth. The District decided to utilize this opportunity to develop a new prototype for their Elementary Schools. With the current trend towards “green” technologies, the District chose to participate in the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The participation in this program represents the Districts commitment to providing safe, healthy, and energy efficient schools to the surrounding community.

4. Accessible Campus Community Environment – Continued It was important to the district that this new prototype be user and community friendly. The facility should serve the community and be available for after hour use. Natural stone is juxtaposed against expansive glass and colorful classroom pods. The building extends a welcoming expression to all that visit. A separate entrance has been provided at each large programmed space, to allow the community to utilize the cafeteria, gymnasium, and media center for after-hours community events.

5. Sustainable Concepts Incorporated into the Curriculum Learning Environment Upon first entering the rotunda at the school’s entrance, students experience the building as a lesson in the science of sustainability. The lesson begins at the Entry/Upper Level of the two-story Core Information Commons, where the building footprint is inlayed in the upper-level floor pattern. In the ceiling above, the orb shaped light fixtures are metaphors for the planets. A graphic of the earth is inlayed in the lower-level floor pattern. The reflection of the light fixtures above are symbolic of a constellation on a starry night. CORE COMMONS ENTRY/UPPER LEVEL LOWER LEVEL

6. FIRST GRADE: INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SECOND GRADE: MATERIALS AND METHODS KINDERGARTEN: SITE SUSTAINABILITY THIRD GRADE: WATER EFFICIENCY FOURTH GRADE: ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE FIFTH GRADE:: INNOVATION AND DESIGN School as Teaching Tool Learning Environment- Continued As the students progress further into the building, they continue their educational journey. Each Information Commons represents a study on the six different core concepts of the LEED for Schools program: SITE SUSTAINABILITY INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MATERIALS AND METHODS WATER EFFICIENCY ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE INNOVATION AND DESIGN These concepts are taught in the school’s curriculum, to allow the students to learn through their physical environment. The intricate patterns give identity to each grade level cluster while reinforcing the districts sustainable mission.

7. Integrated Concepts Physical Environment The grade level identification extends to the exterior of the buildings. This continuation of color, materials and pattern from exterior to interior helps students, teachers and community members relate comfortably to the building. These way finding tools are integrally designed into the building rather than achieved through signage or other applied materials. This building experience teaches visitors about their relationship to the surrounding environment.

8. Sensitive Design Physical Environment - Continued The schools design is centered around sustainable design principles: Daylight Harvesting Southern Exposure Shading Solar Glass Low Maintenance Building Materials Native Plants Light & Occupancy Sensors Energy Modeling Water Cooled Chillers Indigenous Materials Solar and Wind Analysis High Recycled Content Aluminum Siding Undisturbed Site High Reflective Roof & Parking Automated HVAC Sensors

9. School as Community Planning Process: Flat, level sites are difficult to find within North East ISD. The prototype under development must account for the fact that there is often a steep slope across the site. The design team organized the building program to allow for the natural fall of the site. The entry level is on the “high” side of the site. A circular “rotunda” acts as an orienting device to provide a singular point of entry that can be monitored by the school’s administrative staff. The academic areas are divided into grade-level clustered that are centered around “information commons”.

10. Concept Implementation Planning Process - Continued The District recognized a need to improve its facility design to serve elementary school-aged students. A committee made up of all stakeholders toured numerous elementary schools across Texas. The Superintendent charged the group to seek the best practices that support elementary school curriculum to integrate into the new facility design. Many hours of collaboration and teamwork resulted in a “PLACE” not just a “space” for these elementary school students.

11. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Data

12. Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture 2008 Project Details

13. Supplemental Images

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