John Lewis Elementary

Case study
K-12 Schools

John Lewis Elementary's Net Zero, Wellness-Focused Design Powers Sustainable Learning

In an approach to modernize the educational facility design and performance of their schools, District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) worked with CMTA to address educational and programmatic space needs for John Lewis Elementary (formerly West Education Campus).

CMTA partnered with Perkins Eastman to deliver DCPS’s first ground-up elementary school and the district’s first triple certified building, achieving LEED Platinum, Zero Energy, and WELL Platinum certifications.

Customer Needs

In response to ambitious clean energy laws in Washington, D.C., DCPS, in conjunction with Department of General Services (DGS), sought to:

  • Design a zero-energy school on budget and on schedule
  • Prioritize occupant health and wellness
  • Create a built learning environment that provides access to building operational information within the classroom
  • Pursue ambitious sustainability goals
Key Strategies Implemented

CMTA and DCPS have successfully transformed John Lewis Elementary School into a modern education and sustainable building. The following key results highlight the significant advancements made in energy efficiency, design, and indoor air quality:

  • Improved building performance by 40% compared to the original school, operating at 22.3 EUI after the first year
  • Achieved a modern design reflecting 21st Century Learning environment guidelines and DCPS Educational Specifications
  • Implemented a highly energy-efficient facility with a 650kW photovoltaic array and innovative geothermal pumping configuration to reduce energy use
  • Utilized energy-efficient LED lighting and natural daylighting to minimize lighting energy consumption, achieving an installed lighting power density of 0.44 W/SF
  • Increased ventilation air by 30% in all occupied spaces, improving indoor air quality significantly
Sustainability Consulting
Consulting Engineering
Program Management
Energy Solutions
Impact
Location
Washington, D.C.
project size
88,588 SF
Year Completed
2021
Awards
  • ENR Mid-Atlantic - K12 Award of Merit 2022
  • ASHRAE International Technology Award
Energy Savings
Quote

These high-performance designs require incorporating new philosophies, a higher level of detail, and collaboration between disciplines… CMTA has helped DCPS achieve unprecedented results while maintaining schedules and budgets and ensuring ease of operations and maintenance.

Stephen Kitterman
Project Manager, Department of General Services
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