Pine Jog Elementary School, built on the edge of a natural pineland habitat, has become the first school in Florida to receive LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to Miami-based architect Zyscovich and project owner the School District of Palm Beach County.
The project is a partnership between the School District of Palm Beach County and Florida Atlantic University. The Pine Jog campus maximizes energy and water conservation, utilizes environmentally-appropriate materials and engages students to learn about environmental sustainability first-hand.
The school, which opened last summer, features a hydroponic fruit and vegetable garden that is nourished by water from the cisterns. The playground equipment is made from recycled plastic milk jugs and the benches from recycled glass. The building’s paints and adhesives are hypoallergenic and nontoxic.
