Spanning 38,000 sq ft, this two-story science building includes biology, chemistry and physics classrooms, along with spaces for the school’s outdoor and robotics programs and a nature lab. A record-breaking winter presented the team with one of its most significant challenges. From November through January, crews were installing brick, finishing up the steel structure and drying the roof in. The harsh winter pushed the project’s winter conditions budget up by three times, but, despite this, the team delivered the science building one month early and under budget in June 2023.

Ground source geothermal serves as part of an all-electric mechanical system for this all-electric building and will cut energy consumption by as much as 50%. All the geothermal piping in the building is exposed as part of a Science on Display/Building as Teacher effort. Construction trade partners worked through BIM collaboration sessions to coordinate routing systems throughout the building before materials were fabricated, and this was critical in minimizing waste, enabling significant shop fabrication and maintaining the project schedule.

Sustainable materials were specified wherever possible, while daylight harvesting systems enable light fixtures to be turned off automatically when not needed. Other features include rooftop skylights, high clerestory glass and a white roof membrane. The building was designed to accommodate the addition of rooftop solar panels to provide onsite renewable energy.