One of MNPS’s largest school construction and renovation projects in recent memory has won a LEED Gold award from the U.S. Green Building Council in recognition of its environmentally friendly and sustainable design.
The work on Hillsboro High School, which is expected to be completed this spring, has included a full renovation of the school as well as construction of a new library, cafeteria, kitchen, art spaces, a multipurpose athletic field, and other areas.
The design includes paths connecting the high school to surrounding streets; water fixtures that reduce water usage by more than 30 percent; a neighborhood recycling center for the community; views to the outside in 90 percent of the classrooms; and a 32 percent more efficient mechanical system, among other features.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Gold is the second-highest level in the LEED rating system.
“It is very difficult to achieve any level of LEED certification, let alone LEED Gold, on a project that mixes renovation with new construction,” said David Proffitt, MNPS’s executive director for facilities, maintenance and construction. “This is a great credit to the architects at ARTifice LLC; their LEED consultant, Hastings; and American Constructors, the general contractor. We thank all of them for the energy and innovation they’ve brought to this project, and we know Hillsboro High School’s students, staff and visitors will benefit every day.”
The work at Hillsboro is just one part of MNPS’s everyday efforts to make our schools and other facilities more environmentally sustainable as we work to reduce the district’s energy usage 16 percent by 2024.
