Millbrook Elementary School

The new Millbrook Elementary School building incorporates extensive sustainable design elements. The new building replaces two outdated buildings, which were demolished. Natural light is the primary light source for all major spaces during two-thirds of the daylight hours. The daylighting strategy is based on south- and north-facing roof monitors with fabric baffles that eliminate glare and distribute light evenly. On the south side, exterior light shelves shade the lower view glass, and blinds between the glass block direct gain and bounce light to the ceiling. Energy-Efficient Building Shell: Window sizes and treatments vary with their orientation, location and function. Thermal break windows, R-30 roof insulation, high-mass masonry cavity walls, and radiant barriers doubling as exfiltration barriers are consistently used throughout the building.

Rainwater Collection System: Rainwater is collected from the roof into a 10,000 gallon underground cistern and is used for flushing toilets. Domestic Solar Hot Water: A solar thermal system preheats water for cafeteria use. Photovoltaic System: A highly visible 2 kilowatt PV system, mounted on a covered walkway, provides power to the new building. Materials Recycling: Recycled materials include carpet, metal roofing, play equipment and playground surface. A mandatory waste management plan specified that construction and deconstruction debris would be recycled. Local Products: Locally manufactured masonry products are the predominant structural and finish materials. Energy-efficient Electrical and Mechanical Systems: The fluorescent lighting is dimmable and controlled by light and motion sensors. The HVAC system is a four-pipe boiler/chiller system with VAV units. The ductwork runs within conditioned or semi-conditioned spaces. Constructed Wetland: The wetland was designed to minimize nitrogen runoff and enhance students’ opportunity to study local eco-systems. Combined with the rainwater collection system, the wetland reduces nitrogen discharge from the site by 85% below the amount discharged before construction.