The Green Building Certification Institute recently awarded Patrick Henry PreK-8 School and Patrick Henry Neighborhood Recreation Center its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver certification. Located in the West End of Alexandria, Virginia, the 138,600-square-foot school and adjoining 18,500-square-foot recreation center opened in January 2019. The project was a joint effort between the City of Alexandria and Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).

The facilities’ sustainable and high performance features are expected to save more than $115,000 in annual energy expenses and more than $11,000 in annual water expenses. Approximately 1,500,000 gallons of water will be conserved each year.

“The emphasis on an exceptional indoor environment that will boost the productivity of the students, teachers and community members, coupled with the energy and water conservation measures that will save taxpayer dollars for decades, make this a project we can all be proud of.”

Bryna Dunn, Director of Sustainability at Moseley Architects

The following features and strategies contributed to the facilities’ LEED® Silver certification.

Energy performance

• Enhanced thermal building envelope
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Energy-efficient heating and air conditioning equipment

Water Conservation

• Low-flow plumbing fixtures

Site Improvements

• Public transportation access
• Roofing material that reduces the heat island effect
• Community-use of auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria and playing fields

Materials Use

• 93% of construction waste diverted from landfills
• 26% of building materials made of recycled content
• 31% of building materials manufactured within 500 miles of the site

Indoor Environment

• Low-emitting paints, adhesives, sealants, composite wood and flooring
• 92% of all spaces that are regularly occupied have outdoor views

This project contributes to Moseley Architects’ extensive portfolio of sustainable design in K-12 facilities. The firm’s high performance projects have resulted in an estimated total annual savings of $5.87 million.