Clackamas High School
Clackamas, Ore.
BOORA Architects

This school serves as a national model for energy conservation

© Michael Mathers

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Located in a residential neighborhood, the LEED Silver certified Clackamas High School sets a high sustainability and instructional standard for K-12 schools. The facility serves the expanding rural community as a center for continuing education, community meetings, and district-wide physical education. Its 265,355-square-foot comprises four two-story academic houses. A library joins them, and a central commons with administration and counseling services connects fine arts, special education, support, and physical education areas.

The Rocky Mountain Institute and Energy Foundation selected the school to serve as a national model for performance-based compensation and exceptional energy performance. The design provides optimum natural lighting and ventilation and uses a material palette following principles of environmental sensitivity, simplicity and efficiency.

In view of recent studies on the correlation between greater use of natural daylight and ventilation with increased learning, the building design set out to optimize daylighting, ventilation, solar access, and control. Interior daylighting decreases the need for artificial light, which in turn decreases the heat load and energy costs caused by lights. Occupancy, carbon dioxide, and lighting sensors ensure the provision of sufficient light and air. The commons area and gymnasiums incorporate natural ventilation via mechanically controlled dampers, louvers, and air stacks. Classrooms are naturally ventilated by manual operation with a mechanical backup system. Concrete slabs and concrete masonry walls assist with natural convection by using thermal masses to stabilize internal air temperatures throughout the year. When not needed in the theater, offices, library, and administrative spaces, a two-pipe system allows mechanical ventilation.

The design process integrated a total building and site energy analysis and established specific requirements for building envelope, HVAC, lighting systems, materials, and landscaping features. Capital costs for operating systems were balanced with life-cycle and energy use analyses. The school boasts an energy savings of 44 percent.

Location:
Clackamas, Ore.

Gross square footage:
265,355 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$30.2 million

Owner:
North Clackamas School District

Architect:
BOORA Architects, Inc.
720 SW Washington, Suite 800
Portland, OR 97205
Phone: (503) 226-1575
Fax: (503) 241-7429
www.boora.com