Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Hot Springs Intermediate School, located in Hot Springs,
Arkansas, may appear to be an everyday, two-story school. But in
taking a closer look at the aluminum, glass and brick building it
is apparent that there is much more to the building than meets the
eye.
Sustainability was a key factor in creating the new school. It
was important that the Intermediate School incorporate solutions
that help provide a healthy, productive learning environment, such
as increased daylighting and improved energy efficiency. To help
achieve natural lighting, products from Alcoa's Kawneer
architectural aluminum products business were selected to help
increase the durability, sustainability and energy efficiency of
the school. The new school, now occupied by approximately 700
students, is spacious and features an open floor plan with natural
light throughout.
Challenges for Kawneer
- The School District had strict energy requirements; therefore
energy efficiency was essential to the project.
- Many of the classrooms in the new school faced west, which was
not ideal for energy efficiency or daylighting.
- To fit the needs of a growing student body, the new facility
needed to be durable and able to handle heavy traffic.
Kawneer Solutions
- To meet the energy and lighting needs of the school while
keeping within the project's budget and design guidelines, a
combination of Kawneer's 1600 SunShade and custom sunshades were
used to help control glare and maximize natural light during the
school day.
- For additional thermal and performance options, Kawneer's
versatile Trifab VG 451T Storefront Framing was selected. The
building also incorporates a geo-thermal heating system and an
insulated building envelope.
- Additionally, extra insulation was integrated into the roof to
exceed the energy code. Entrance vestibules also featured sloped
glazing to allow for increased natural light to enter the
building.
For durability, Kawneer 350 Medium Stile Entrances were used.
This entrance package, composed of a door, door frame and hardware,
is designed specifically for high traffic areas such as school
entrances, and makes a good, aesthetic impression, while
simultaneously withstanding the rigors of constant use. To provide
heightened security, Kawneer's Paneline Exit Devices, which offer
total access control, were installed on the entrances to the
facility.
Other Design Highlights
The site that the school district selected for the new facility
was adjacent to the old building and fairly small in size. To
compensate for the small building site, local architectural firm
Douglas A. Arnold and Associates was required to go from a
one-story design to a two-story plan. A greenhouse, incorporated
into the design as a part of its science curriculum, features a
skylight that provides smooth appearance and helps minimize heat
loss and condensation. The combination of the building's green
features and modern teaching facilities, which includes a separate
physical education building and auditorium, as well as an elaborate
arts wing, helped make Hot Springs Intermediate School
state-of-the-art.
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