Riverview Elementary School, Snohomish

Services: Structural and Civil
Square Feet: 70,000
Construction Cost: $19,600,000
Completion: 2011
Base Materials: Wood
Client: NAC Architecture

This new elementary school boasts one of the most advanced sustainable school designs in the state. Salvaged glulam beams, brick, and concrete were incorporated into the structural and site designs. A hyper-insulated envelope encases the structure to reduce heat loss and more than 400 roof-mounted photovoltaic panels offset 18% of the total energy consumed.

A ground-loop heat exchange provides heating and cooling by using nearly 100 geothermal wells located under the parking lots and rain gardens. Green stormwater infrastructure throughout the site mimics pre-development conditions, while rain gardens, porous pavement, and roof gardens naturally clean runoff and hydrate site wetlands.