H.D. Cooke Elementary School has achieved Gold certification under LEED for Schools 2.0 from the US Green Building Council. Cooke, a previously ageing urban elementary school, was recently modernized and expanded under a design-build partnership between QEA and Gilbane Building Company. The project repurposed and renovated the historic portion of the school, which was originally constructed in 1909, and expanded the facility with a 9,100-square-foot addition containing a new gymnasium, dining hall, and central circulation core for the entire school.
The resulting design is a high performance 21st century educational facility which exemplifies green design while maintaining and improving the school's connection to the surrounding urban neighborhood.
The project tallied a total of 49 points to achieve LEED Gold, and is the first DC Public School facility to earn this status. The LEED for Schools Rating System recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of K-12 schools and is the recognized third-party standard for high-performance schools that are healthy for students, comfortable for teachers, and cost effective. It addresses issues such as classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention and environmental site assessment.
The project achieved sustainable goals in both design and construction. The existing building fabric provided the most sustainable aspect of the project: refinished wood floors and frames, interior masonry bearing walls, and large original window openings and skylights are just a few. Both the original and new window openings and skylights fill learning spaces with natural light and ventilation. Sunshades on the southern and eastern exposures along with fritted and insulated glazing protect against solar heat gain. New efficient building systems and interior finishes requiring no-chemical maintenance led our sustainable best-practice design. The school features a public educational display program which highlights and explains sustainable technologies and attributes.