Rudolfo Anaya Elementary School

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Firm

Van H. Gilbert Architect PC

Client

Albuquerque Public Schools

Area

83,304 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$15,049,781

Completion Date

04/2009

Rudolfo Anaya Elementary School is a green, high-performance prototype design for Albuquerque Public Schools. The project is one of three schools built simultaneously to test the adaptation of the prototype to sites with a diversity of constraints and challenges. The prototype consists of a kit of parts: kindergarten, classroom pods, administration, gymnasium, kitchen/cafeteria, media center and intensive support spaces.

The 83,000-square-foot, two-story building mass is organized into two slender wings, maximizing building perimeter, creating shaded areas and offering natural ventilation and daylight. The two wings merge at the school’s core, creating shared indoor and outdoor gathering spaces that promote interaction and collaboration.

The school employs a number of green strategies that reduce operating costs and mechanical first-costs; boost performance with passive solar strategies; and increase building longevity, comfort and aesthetics. These strategies include a closed-loop solar-collector system for domestic water heating, unique sunshade fabrication, high-performance mechanical systems, efficient building envelope, and a cool (reflective) roof system.