Williamstown Elementary School

Overview

• Location: Williamstown, MA
• Building type(s): K-12 education
• New construction
• 89,000 ft2 (8,270 m2)
• Project scope: 2-story building
• Completed September 2002
  This project was completed on time for the opening of the 2002-2003 school year.

Located on the original 16.5 acre site, the new 89,000 square foot Williamstown Elementary School replaces the 104,000 square foot original building, which remained occupied through construction. High performance qualities were at the forefront of the design process from the early stages of this project. Williamstown Elementary School is located between Williams College and a residential Victorian neighborhood and is central to the town both physically and functionally. Founded in 1765, Williamstown is located in rural Berkshire County minutes from the New York and Vermont borders. The town population is 4,700 plus about 2,000 college students. Williamstown Elementary School serves approximately 530 students in Pre-K through 6th grade.

Environmental Aspects

Williamstown Elementary School was one of the original Green Schools Initiative Track I grantees of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's Green Schools Initiative. This School is CHPS certified and received 31 of 81 possible points, 3 points over the minimum 28 required to earn certification. The new school incorporates energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, increased durability, and an improved indoor environment to create a high-quality building.

Thanks to its energy efficiency strategies, which emphasize spatial economy, the new building is 15,000 square feet smaller than the original school. The HVAC system utilizes energy recovery units, and all light fixtures are energy efficient with multiple light level switches. The masonry load bearing structure contributes to the energy efficiency of the building by having high thermal mass and allowing insulation to be continuous between walls and roof. A 24 kW photovoltaic system is prominently located on the pitched roof, and the building is oriented to maximize daylight harvesting. The school has an environmental curriculum that integrates state-mandated content with the building, the surrounding natural area, and current issues.

Williamstown Elementary School was designed to reduce annual energy costs by 31.4% below a conventional building. The design achieves these savings by using 12.3% less electricity and 48.9% less oil than the base case building. The photovoltaic system further reduces building electricity consumption to 18.8% below the base case, reducing total energy costs by $36,081 annually.

Owner & Occupancy

• Owned by Williamstown Public Schools, Local government
• Occupants: Local government

Enrollment at Williamstown Elementary School was 530 in its first year of operation (2002-2003).

Keywords

Green specifications, Massing and orientation, HVAC, Lighting control and daylight harvesting, Efficient lighting, On-site renewable electricity, Adaptable design, Durability, Recycled materials, Occupant recycling, Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Thermal comfort, Low-emitting materials

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