Completion Date:     11/1/2016

Square Footage:      11000

Building Use:           Preschool

Location:                 Newport Beach, California

Project Description:

In 2013 the Environmental Nature Center purchased a 1.5 acre site adjacent to their existing 3.2 acre site for the purpose of building a preschool: the ENC Preschool will be the second LEED Platinum Net Zero building on the 4.7-acre campus in Newport Beach. The new 8,000 SF 3-classroom building has been designed to complement the existing ENC facility while giving form to its program. The program has been organized into separate support and classroom blocks connected by a covered Breezeway. The Breezeway promotes natural ventilation taking advantage of the coastal climate: the spaces will not have a conventional HVAC system using instead natural ventilation and efficient ceiling fans to enhance air movement when needed. A radiant floor heating system will provide low energy, mild heating as required. Like the existing ENC building, active and passive sustainable approaches are key in minimizing the energy demand for the preschool making the installation of the photovoltaic rooftop system affordable in achieving a “net zero” building. The project is also pursuing Living Building Challenge petal certification.
Sustainable Highlights
• Beginning with the North/South orientation of the building, the ENC will harvest natural daylight through the breezeway and high north facing glass wall clerestories. The breezeway which separates the staff areas from the Center’s classrooms also promotes natural ventilation.
• Coupled with the natural daylight is a lighting control system which monitors not only the lighting requirements but the occupancy of all rooms saving both energy and cost.
• The building exceeds California’s Title 24 requirements by 70% making the renewable “net zero” aspect of the project affordable.
• The South facing roof of the Preschool accommodates a 325KW array of photovoltaic panels. The PV panels which provide 100% of the net energy for the Preschool’s electrical needs as part of SCE’s net metering program.
• The spaces will not have a conventional HVAC system using instead natural ventilation and efficient ceiling fans to enhance air movement when needed. A radiant floor heating system will provide low energy, mild heating as required
• Drought tolerant and indigenous landscape eliminates all irrigation required on site.
• Organic garden will provide teaching opportunities and actual food supplies for student lunches. ENC staff will tend and provide educational content.
• 100% of storm water runoff is treated on site with bioswales and returned to the aquifer.
• Extensive use of recycled and recyclable materials used throughout the facility. As an example the composite siding material used on the exterior of the buildings is made of wood and plastic scraps that would normally end up in a landfill
• Water efficiency measures reduce this buildings water use by 46% from a similar building. Waterless urinal, dual flush and low flow fixtures will saves an average of 15,000 gallons of portable water per year.

Through simple and cost effective design strategies, the ENC preschool will become a living laboratory and educational tool for smart green design and conservation for the entire region demonstrating the power of changing the discussion from one of added cost to one of “added value”.

C.O.T.E. | Committee on the Environment

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