The Harker School, Science and Technology Building

San Jose, California

Firm

DES Architects + Engineers

Client

The Harker School

Area

50,824 sq.ft.

Completion Date

08/2008

The Science and Technology Building was envisioned as a stimulating environment where the architecture would contribute to the scientific learning experience, provide learning and collaborative spaces, show the school’s environmental commitment through sustainable design, and create flexibility to accommodate future developments in technology and teaching methods.
The solution was a 50,800-square-foot, two-story classroom building with a central forum constructed of translucent roof panels and clear span trusses, providing circulation, gathering and collaboration areas with outdoor accessibility. The building contains 22 classrooms and robotics functions, along with a 200-seat lecture room and rotunda.
Architectural elements encourage scientific thinking and curiosity. A suspended pendulum demonstrates the earth’s rotation in the glazed curtainwall rotunda. Audiovisual systems allow worldwide sharing of science experiments from the lecture room.
The project incorporated LEED features: a green roof, infrastructure for future photovoltaic panels and a fuel cell. Interiors include natural, recycled, renewable and low-emission VOC materials, low-energy-consumption lighting and appliances. An indirect/direct evaporative cooling system with VAV boxes distributes air and heat with maximum energy efficiency.

“The concept and its green elements are consistent and appropriate for this science and technology building.”–2007 jury