LEED Gold Certification for Stillwater Early Childhood Family Center

What Sustainable Design Features Supported LEED Gold Certification?

The Stillwater Area Schools Early Childhood Family Center includes a range of sustainable building strategies:

• A light-colored, high-reflectance cool roof.
• A high-efficiency mechanical system modeled to provide savings of at least 40 percent above code requirements.
• Abundant natural light in classrooms through expansive windows and solar tubes.
• Low-emitting materials, mold prevention, indoor air quality management and efficient appliances.
• A 20-kilowatt photovoltaic solar panel system that converts solar radiation into electricity, along with solar thermal technology to heat water.
• A stormwater management plan.
• Water-efficient, low-flow plumbing fixtures.
• A high-efficiency HVAC system.
• A high-performance building envelope with insulated windows.
• Automatic lighting controls.
• Certified Forest Stewardship Council wood.
• Recycling of at least 75 percent of construction waste.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system provides additional information about the certification framework and its approach to building performance.

The project’s focus on energy performance, indoor air quality and durable building systems reflects the role of Building Science services in high-performance facilities. For more information about healthy building environments, explore indoor air quality considerations.

How Does the Facility Support Early Childhood Learning?

The Early Childhood Family Center provides a healthy learning environment for children from birth through age 5 as they build a foundation for learning.

About 500 families each week use the facility, which supports children with a wide range of abilities. Programs include classes for infants and toddlers and their parents, preschool students, and adults working toward a GED or learning English.

The children’s gymnasium includes cushioned floor tiles color-coded to support activities, games and developmental milestones.

A sensory motor room was designed with input from Courage Center to provide activities in a more intimate, supportive environment. The room includes an enhanced cushioned floor, lower ceilings, a child-size rock-climbing wall, ceiling swings, padded movable partitions and other activity equipment.

The District 916 classroom includes auditory panels to improve sound quality and a sound-field system that can connect to children’s hearing devices. A specialized kitchenette is used by Courage Center for feeding therapies.

These features demonstrate how inclusive learning environments can help accommodate different developmental, sensory and mobility needs. Learn more about inclusive learning spaces for special education students and K-12 construction.

What Was Planned Next for Stillwater Area Schools?

At the time of this announcement, Kraus-Anderson and BWBR were working with the district on plans for a new elementary school and high school addition, both scheduled to begin construction the following year.

In this article, Kraus-Anderson shared Stillwater Area Schools Early Childhood Family Center’s LEED Gold certification, sustainable design features, indoor air quality measures, inclusive learning spaces and early childhood education programs. Learn more about sustainable school design, LEED Gold projects and Stillwater Area Schools construction projects.