CIVANO COMMUNITY SCHOOL
CIVANO COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Phil Swaim
Project Principal
This 7,100 SF five-classroom K-8 school for the Vail School District uses sustainable design strategies to provide a very energy efficient and sustainable environment for the students and faculty. Proper solar orientation and fenestration design provide natural daylighting in all classrooms and minimize heat gain. Outdoor courtyards allow for additional classroom space during temperate months while photovoltaic panels generate electricity from the sun to reduce the environmental footprint of the school. Water harvesting tanks capture rainwater which is used to irrigate the courtyard landscaping and provides a teaching tool for the students. Sustainability is further integrated through the use of salvaged windows, steel joists, solar water heaters, a garden, and a recycling program.
- HIGHLIGHTS
- 7,100 SF, K through 8
- $1.2 Million
- Phased Completion
- 2003 and 2011
- 2008 Governor’s Achievement for Sustainable School Design Award
- Voted Greenest School by Ellen Degeneres
- Many sustainable design strategies including water harvesting, photovoltaics, and salvaged materials
- The school is designed to support small group projects, peer interaction, student mentoring, and community involvement
