LEED Gold Certification for Stillwater Early Childhood Family Center
Stillwater Area Schools Early Childhood Family Center (ECFC) has been awarded LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED, the USGBC’s Green Building Rating System™, is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. This is the first LEED project for the district.
Designed by BWBR Architects and completed in 2012, the ECFC employs many sustainable design features, including:
- a light color and high-reflectancy cool roof
- a high-efficiency mechanical system providing savings of at least 40 percent above code requirements
- abundant natural light in classrooms provided by expansive windows and solar tubes
- low-emitting materials, mold prevention, indoor air quality management and efficient appliances.
- a 20kW photovoltaic solar panel system, converting solar radiation into electric power and solar thermal to heat water.
- stormwater management plan
- water-efficient and low-flow plumbing fixtures
- high-efficiency HVAC system
- high-performance building envelope with insulated windows
- automatic lighting controls
- low-emitting materials
- Certified Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wood
At least 75 percent of the construction waste was recycled.
The facility provides a healthy learning environment to help children from birth to age 5 develop a solid foundation for learning. About 500 families a week use the facility, which is inclusive of children with a wide range of abilities. The facility offers classes for infants and toddlers and their parents, preschool students, and adults working toward a GED or learning English.
Features include a children’s gymnasium is constructed with cushioned floor tiles color-coded to accommodate children’s activities, games and achievements. A sensory motor room designed with input from Courage Center provides activities in a more intimate, non-threatening environment, with an enhanced cushioned floor, lower ceilings, child-size rock-climbing wall, ceiling swings, padded movable partitions and other activity equipment. The District 916 classroom has auditory panels for better sound quality and a sound field system which can be tied in to children’s hearing devices. A special kitchenette is utilized by Courage Center for feeding therapies. Stillwater ECFC
Kraus-Anderson and BWBR are currently working with the district on plans for construction of a new elementary school and high school addition, both scheduled to break ground next year.
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