LEED Gold Rochester School in Colombia by Daniel Bonilla

Its 15,500 m2 of construction occupies 23% of the 25,000 m2 of land, so that 77% is left for courts, green space, and walkways. Its aquatic center heats two swimming pools and dressing rooms with solar collectors and electric heat pumps so that swimming classes are part of the curriculum and the heating systems are studied by the students and teachers. The 20 KWp solar photovoltaic arrays on top of the middle and high school blocks provide a grid-tie source of energy for 12% of the electricity demands of the campus and is monitored and studied by students and teachers. The water treatment plant provides tertiary treatment for waste water that is recycled for toilets and irrigation reducing 32% of potable water consumption and is studied and monitored by students and teachers. Acoustics, automatically controlled LED lighting, natural diffused lighting, and other sustainable strategies promote higher order thinking and learning, as well as getting along and work ethic. There are 5 main blocks for Pre-School to High School with 2 to 4 floors per block, as well as an Audeteria (auditorium and cafeteria) with 12 arts classrooms, a chapel, a 384 people cafeteria, a snack bar, and a professional theater for 600 people. 5. Classrooms were designed based on a combination of circular windows and straight walls with trapezoidal desks that form two semi-circles that facilitate conversations and collaboration, as well as individual work. Lab classrooms have specially designed tables for 6 students with and without faucets. All classrooms accommodate a maximum of 24 students. Every classroom has various sensors: occupancy and luminosity to control 9 LED luminaries connected in 3 circuits; CO2 and temperature sensors to control the injection of fresh air from outside with outlets through the drop ceiling to the outside of the building; 85% acoustical attenuation drop ceiling, indirect lighting from the sun while maintaining the view; low VOC flooring and painting; linoleum flooring; 4 or 5 classrooms connected around an extended learning area used by all those classrooms provide an innovative way to teach and learn

Hybrid ventilation

Ventilation + Heat recovery

Photovoltaics

Solar water heating

Water-saving sanitary appliances

Sustainable building materials

Recycled materials

Low-emitting materials and finishes

High efficient lighting