Downtown Educational Complex, Phase I, La Escuelita Elementary School
Oakland, California
The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Downtown Educational Complex phase one includes 46,000 square feet of classrooms and administrative offices. OUSD is Collaborative for High Performance School (CHPS) certified, and was subject to the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 55 and the California Building Standards Code (Title 24). OUSD wanted to avoid compressor-based cooling in its classrooms, so architects, engineers and designers relied on local climate, building mass and sophisticated controls to meet thermal comfort and IAQ standards.
Classrooms are cooled by 100 percent outdoor air from central air-handling units. Supply airflow rates to the classrooms are varied based on CO2 levels and outdoor air temperatures, and additional cooling is provided by a thermally massive building charged by cool nighttime air and increased circulation. Solar photovoltaics, used to heat water in the kitchen, also offset classroom energy use.
Automatically controlled high-volume, low-speed ceiling fans circulate air to improve comfort and IAQ, moving at a speed determined by the air temperature of the classrooms.
Additional Information
Associated Firm
Taylor Engineering
Cost per Sq Ft
$495.00
Featured in
2013 Educational Interiors
Interior category
Classrooms
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