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2rw Honored in 2010 Top Ten Green Project Selection!

2rw’s consulting work for the Manassas Park Elementary School and Pre-K was instrumental to the site’s selection as a Top Ten Green Project of 2010. Sponsored by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE), this award is the leading recognition program for sustainable design excellence in the field. It celebrates designs that blend together innovative approaches to architecture, technology, and natural systems. In addition, the AIA’s Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) honored the design with a 2010 Merit Award.

2rw has served as the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design engineers for all the schools in the Manassas Park City School system: including the Manassas Park Elementary School and Pre-K (completed in April 2009), Manassas Park Middle School (completed in 2006), Cougar Elementary School (completed in 2000), and Manassas Park High School and addition (completed in 1999). Working as a consultant to VMDO Architects, P.C. of Charlottesville, 2rw collaborated with the Manassas Park City School Board and A/E teams to ensure that each building offered the best possible educational environment for students and staff.

Inside and out, sustainable design is incorporated into the Manassas Park Elementary School and Pre-K facilities. Environmentally-friendly educational spaces feature interiors with local accents, such as sweeping views of Virginia forests, and exteriors that maximize learning opportunities. Outdoor building displays are linked to monitoring and metering systems, providing teaching materials about heat, light, air, water, and energy. Indoor spaces are tailored to accommodate programs in academics, fitness, visual arts, and music. The two buildings serve as teaching tools, helping to guide students along a path of environmental stewardship.

More green facts about the Manassas Park Elementary School and Pre-K:

The LEED Gold certified buildings use 40% less energy than a typical energy code-compliant building.
The buildings surpass the LEED goal of using 20% recycled and regional materials.
Construction efforts diverted more than 99% of waste from landfills to recycling.
Energy-saving strategies are predicted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 45%.
In the past year, the buildings reduced water usage by 85%, the equivalent of a water bill savings of $25,563, in relation to the neighboring Cougar Elementary School.
In the past year, gas and electricity bill savings totaled $49,614 in relation to the neighboring Cougar Elementary School.