With the completion of Raymond Elementary School in July 2023, the design-build team of MCN Build and Studios Architecture demonstrated that high sustainability goals and strict historic preservation requirements can coexist.

The two-and-a-half-year project delivered a redesigned school that accommodates 590 students. It also features a new wing housing a gymnasium, library and classrooms. The team renovated the nearly 100-year-old structure—along with a 1960s addition—making sure to meticulously preserve the historical integrity of the building. In addition, numerous building elements had to be preserved, including corridor walls, plaster ceilings and original terrazzo flooring.

Elevating the challenge, the team targeted LEED Gold and net-zero energy certifications. “You can always build a new building and make it net zero—anybody can do it,” says Amit Patani, vice president at MCN. “But modernizing a historic building and trying to still make it net zero, that’s a unique challenge.”

Photo by Garrett Rowland, courtesy Studios Architecture

The design called for installation of 110 geothermal wells, motorized solar window shades, photovoltaic panels and other energy-efficient systems that were integrated to achieve sustainability goals. The project required upgrading MEP systems, modernizing infrastructure and addressing the challenge of limited space for renewable energy installations. The team also developed a sustainability dashboard interface—now a standard for all of D.C.’s net-zero projects—to communicate the building’s performance based on various energy and electricity meters.

Early in the project, the team faced adversity. A challenge to the contract award resulted in a five-month construction start delay that threatened to derail the project timeline. However, the construction team rose to the challenge, committing to a rigorous six-day workweek for the entire project.

The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains further complicated matters, causing significant material delays, particularly for structural steel. In response, the MCN team strategically released long lead time items nearly a year before installation and expedited others.

Photo by Garrett Rowland, courtesy Studios Architecture

While the project encountered its share of hurdles, teamwork ensured the successful delivery of a historic net-zero facility, all within budget.

One of the biggest challenges faced at the Raymond project was its proximity to the residential houses and sharing a parking lot with the community recreation center. The project safety team worked to minimize the project’s impact on the community and ensure community safety and well-being.

During construction, there were multiple break-ins and incidents of vandalism at the project and nearby recreation center. Extra security cameras were added on site, facing the parking lot where summer school activities were conducted. The strategy helped the recreation center keep the children safe while also monitoring the site’s security. On more than one occasion, the project team dedicated painters from its workforce to help paint over graffiti and vandalism on the facade and walls around the recreation center to maintain a clean and aesthetic environment.