Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Kirkland

Services: Structural and Civil
Square Feet: 52,000
Construction Cost: $10,800,000
Completion: 2005
Base Material: Steel
Client: Mahlum Architects

This two-story school, comprised of three wings with two courtyards, features sustainable design features that earned the project the 2006 AIA Top Ten Green Project Award. The facility is oriented to provide interior spaces with abundant natural light and 100% natural ventilation through rigorous daylight and thermal modeling. The unique sloping roof system supports both natural lighting and a stormwater collection system which feeds rain gardens. The school's design focuses on integrating and highlighting the building's relationship to the adjacent forest for both learning and recreation.