The Next Generation: Fossil Ridge High School
Fort Collins Utilities Integrated Design Case Study
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Photo courtesy of RB+B Architects, Inc
Focus on Students
Fossil Ridge High School (FRHS) is the latest evolution in Poudre School District's sustainably designed schools. The design team met the district's challenge and built a school that performs even better than the award-winning Zach and Bacon Elementary Schools.
The new challenge:
- provide students with the best learning environment possible, including comfortable, healthy and productive classrooms;
- create a small school feel but have all the amenities of a large school;
- make the school more flexible to adapt to changing needs over time;
- cut operating costs so district dollars stay in the classroom;
- let the school be a teaching tool for environmental stewardship; and, of course
- build it for no added cost and open the school on time.
"Most people don't notice all the sustainable features used in the building. They do notice that when you walk into the school, it just feels good." -Michael Spearnak, AIA,
Photo courtesy of RB+B Architects, Inc
By rotating windows to the north, glare is reduced in eye-level windows on west facing walls.
Design for Success
The design team met this challenge by using integrated design to create whole- building solutions with sustainable outcomes. Integrated design relies on many people pooling their knowledge to come up with a solution that would not have been possible with the input of only a few.
The district started the design process by forming a "Green Team" that included architects, engineers, teachers, maintenance staff and others.
Costs of Integrated Design
The design team built on strategies developed during recent elementary school designs, so the district did not have to pay a premium for design fees. Construction costs were within the budget set in 2000 for a typical high school in the district.
Integrated Design Assistance
This project received support from Fort Collins Utilities' Integrated Design Assistance Program. The program offers staff support and expertise during the design process and financial assistance to supplement the incremental cost of energy consultants.
How Low Can You Go?
There is one big cost difference between a typical school and Fossil Ridge High School-energy bills. Based on energy models and the first few months of operation, the school is expected to save the district at least $60,000 per year through lower energy costs.
"Fossil Ridge energy bills will be about one-third less than the newest high school in the district of the same size," said Stu Reeve, energy manager for the district. "The dollars saved go right back into the classroom."
Careful choices for window size and placement provide daylit spaces, minimize glare and reduce the need for electric lighting during the day. Ice thermal storage systems use low-cost night energy to serve the air conditioning needs of the building.
Every Drop Counts
The school also provides excellent examples of water conservation techniques. Synthetic turf playing fields provide more hours of play in less space, with no water and little maintenance required. A new pond provides raw water for the Xeriscaped grounds at Fossil Ridge, nearby Zach Elementary and two City parks.
The Next Generation
"We owe it to the next generation to build healthy, flexible and productive schools that don't deplete precious water, energy and material resources," said Michael Spearnak, AIA, director of planning, design and construction at Poudre School District. "And, the next generation is learning this first-hand at Fossil Ridge High School."
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