BRJ and Associates, LLC BRJ and Associates, LLC
Green & Sustainability

H. Allen Hight Learning Center - Green Roof


Better – Greener – Progress

The District and the project team committed to green technology from the onset to ensure H. Allen Hight Learning Center (HAH) satisfied the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) Best Practices design guidelines for sustainable school design. BRJ collaborated with the design team and developed a “green roof” that would make the HAH not only function as a ‘green building’, but as a learning tool for the next generation of decision makers. The “green roof” proved to be a success, garnering supplemental funding by the State in addition to the long-term financial savings and the green learning environment it provides for students.

Description

The CHPS designation would only result from a comprehensive program of environmentally sound and student-friendly design and construction to provide maximum sustainability. Because of H. Allen Hight Learning Center’s high performance, sustainable design features, the Natomas Unified School District received $400,000 in Prop 1D funding and qualified for an $89,000 incentive from the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) “Savings by Design Program”. Prop 1D is the State of California’s initiative for the design of sustainable, high performance schools and funds are awarded by the Division of the State Architect (using the same criteria as CHPS) for high performance school design. SMUD’s “Savings by Design” program awards financial incentives for energy saving building designs.

  • It is the first public school of its kind in the state with a “green roof,” where an administrative and library building is topped by a foot of dirt and sedum plant cover that baffles unwanted sound and provides a biological way to clean the air.
  • Other high performance features include using recycled building materials, low-emission paints and adhesives to improve indoor air quality and plentiful natural lighting to cut energy usage.
  • Landscaping to provide drought tolerant, low pollen emitting trees

 

Combined with the long–term financial benefits of building schools this way, HAH is a winner for the environment, the students and staff, and the taxpayers.


BRJ’s project role

project and construction managers

Project value

$80 million

Project dates

February 2005 to May 2008

Construction type

new construction

Partners

Project manager: BRJ & Associates, LLC

Construction manager: BRJ & Associates, LLC

Architect: RDS Architects

Contractor: Turner Construction Co.

Agency: Division of State Architect (DSA)

Client

Natomas Unified School District

Sacramento, CA 


  • BRJ & Associates, LLC

    BRJ is dedicated to the principle of providing wise, balanced, and prudent leadership to thoroughly address the needs of our clients. The value we add is found in buildings and other capital improvements that meet all of the goals set by our clients.

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  • Corporate 

    3452 East Foothill Blvd.,
    Suite 1100
    Pasadena, CA 91107

    t: 626.578.7277
    f: 626.578.7377

    info@brjassociates.com