The Collaborative: Spring Issue 2017

Text PreFAB is Fabulous! On a mission to make every school a healthy high-performance school! Cover Photo Credit: San Martin-Gwinn Elementary School. Photo provided by American Modular Systems/Gen 7 Schools. ISSUE: Spring 2017 Connect with us www.chps.net Info@chps.net The Collaborative Text Text March 30, 2017 2 The Collaborative/ Winter Issue Sydney Muns, Program Coordinator PreFAB is Fabulous! Let’s face it, when most of us are presented with the idea of prefabricated modular classrooms as alternatives to traditional constructions, an immediate and almost instinctual sense of terror and dread washes over us as we conjure up horror-show images of children being stuffed into windowless and airless, shoe-box size classrooms. Teachers shouting over noisy and ineffective air systems while students cling to desk, lurching forward, desperately trying to hear if this lecture will be on the test. Dingy, damp and dark prisons where we lock teenagers away and force them to learn calculus in cold winter rooms… Okay, okay, MAYBE it’s not THAT dramatic! But still, I have a distinct memory of helping my math instructor staple fabric to the windows to keep the sun from heating the room because our air conditioner NEVER seemed to work (space-themed fabric, in case you were wondering). I was learning in portables long before PreFABs were cool. AND cool they are! Forget those old trailers; PreFAB design has never been so healthy, high-performing, stylish, and sustainable. Thanks to the brilliant work of design teams, engineers, manufacturers, and non-profits like CHPS, PreFAB has never been so fabulous. And you don't have to just take my word for it! Read about the efforts of these organizations in this issue of THE COLLABORATIVE and find out if PreFAB Modular Classrooms are right for your next school projects. 2 The Collaborative/Spring Issue 02 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: PREFAB IS FABULOUS! 03 Learn about the first chps prefab school 04 EVOLUTION TO REVOLUTION: HOW THE CHPS ORC LEAD TO ONE COMPANY JOINING THE PREFAB MOVEMENT 04 WHAT DOES HEALTHY HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS MEAN TO YOU? 05 & 07 PREFAB CASE STUDIES BY MODLUAR BUILDING INSTITUE 06 chps tECHNICAL DIP: learn about chps prefab prgram 06 chps has partnered with sustainable minds! In This Issue PreFAB Design has never been so healthy! Chrissy Ramirez, American Modular Systems/Gen7 Schools The Morgan Hill Unified School District wanted a CHPS-Verified facility for the new Environmental Science Academy (ESA) at San Martin/Gwinn Elementary (SMG), but they needed it quickly—too quickly to design and build a traditional structure for the next school year. So they turned to a new solution—the Gen7 CHPS PreFAB, the first prefabricated building pre-Verified to meet the CHPS Criteria rating system for healthy, high performance schools. The CHPS PreFAB program was launched in February 2016 and by mid-May, a new Gen7 CHPS PreFAB building was delivered to the school’s San Martin campus. Because the Gen7 PreFAB design is DSA-approved, the state-of-the-art modules were fast-tracked in the American Modular Systems factory and delivered 90% complete to the building site, where they were installed on a permanent foundation. In less than half the time, for a fraction of the cost of stick-built, SMG added six spacious, open-concept classrooms, providing multifunctional learning and lab space for the ESA’s project-based curriculum. Gen7’s innovative design and sustainable features show that a prefab building can achieve the same high performance results as a conventional building. Independent third-party assessment proves that the SMG-ESA uses 60% less energy than a typical school while exceeding the California Title 24 energy code by 40-70%. A cool roof and high-R value insulation form an airtight building envelope, supported by a high-efficiency HVAC system that uses natural ventilation to lower heating and cooling costs. Energy savings, combined with the low-maintenance design, significantly lower the school’s operating costs, allowing MHUSD to recoup its upfront investment over the building’s 50-year life-cycle. The SMG-ESA is not only a high performance building, it’s a high performance learning environment that inspires students to achieve at a higher level. Sited to optimize daylighting, the two-wing building has large low-E view windows and Solatube skylights that fill classrooms with productivity-boosting natural light. Automated sensors power LED lighting on and off as needed, conserving electricity. Exceptional acoustical performance keeps classrooms at a library-quiet 35 dB(A)—50% quieter than the average classroom. A canted ceiling design, noise-free mechanical systems, sound-absorbing floors and acoustical ceiling tiles and wall panels lessen reverberation for improved concentration. The building’s sustainable design also provides valuable health benefits for students and teachers. An all-steel frame and low-emitting materials lower exposure to mold and toxic chemicals that can cause allergies and other respiratory illnesses. A Thermal Displacement Ventilation system continuously circulates fresh, filtered air, directing dust and germs upward to the ceiling, away from occupants. Indoor air quality is noticeably improved, resulting in fewer absences and greater thermal comfort year-round. Ultimately, CHPS PreFAB is as much a teaching tool as it is a learning environment. Built with everyday recyclables like denim jeans and aluminum cans, their classroom teaches students the value of recycling. Low-flow fixtures conserve water. Waste management, at the factory and onsite, diverts 90% of construction waste from landfills, showing students how reducing waste can reduce their environmental impact. And while their new PreFAB building is designed to meet SMG’s immediate needs, the design is future-proof, engineered for enhanced functionality over time. Gen7’s solar-ready design can achieve Zero Net Energy with the addition of rooftop photovoltaic panels, giving SMG-ESA a path for meeting 100% of its energy needs. Photo Credit: San Martin-Gwinn Elementary School. Courtesy American Modular Systems/Gen7 Schools first chps prefab school makes turnkey sustainable design a go-to solution What does a Healthy High-Performance School mean to you? Mike Dieterich, Rise Industries "This success is real and quantifiable." From a journey started in 2012 Five years ago, I started overseeing the Sustainability of the Washington D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) Modernization Program, to enhance performance and optimize energy efficiency across the district’s buildings. The DCPS Modernization Program used energy audits and the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) Operational Report Card (ORC) to establish its data points. The ORC evaluates a learning environment’s performance by measuring its indoor air quality, energy efficiency, visual quality, acoustics, thermal comfort, water conservation, and waste reduction. Over the five-year program we upgraded over three dozen schools which had an average 30% energy savings, post modernization. This success is real and quantifiable. School districts do not always have the funds to upgrade existing campuses or build new healthy high-performance schools. As illustrated in the “State of our Schools report” there are not enough seats for our students. How can we create more sustainable and affordable classrooms, addressing this shortage? Modular buildings! Often referred to as ‘the trailers.’ I had class in a trailer when I was in High school and it was by far the worse classroom in the school. But why does it have to be? What program exists to build better Pre-Fab Classrooms? Eureka! CHPS Pre-FAB Program! CHPS Pre-FAB and Modern Modular Design I set out to engineer and design a modular classroom that would meet the CHPS Verified Pre-Fab requirements constructed out of repurposed shipping containers. In this way, we enhance the learning environment with what used to be the least attractive component of a school. The modular classroom meets the CHPS Verified standard. CHPS uses a score card and a point system to document certification. There is a total of 250 US-CHPS points available. 92 points only the school can achieve. 158 points are available for the manufacturer to purse. To achieve CHPS Pre-Fab status the manufacturer must achieve 70 points and can be recognized as Pre-Fab leader if they achieve over 100 points. The categories for CHPS Pre-Fab follow US CHPS. These categories are Integration and Innovation (II), Environmental Quality (EQ), Energy Efficiency (EE), Water Efficiency (WE), Sustainable Sites (SS), Materials and Waste Management (MW), and Operations & Metrics (OM). I not only wanted to meet the CHPS requirements but asked myself what do I want out of a building? I wanted a building that generates no waste, generates its own water, and energy or A Zero Energy, Zero Water, Zero Waste Building, in this case a classroom. The RISE Building is engineered with passive design strategies to be energy efficient. Then energy needs are off set over a calendar year with (PV) Solar Panels. Costing $0.00 in electricity at the end of the year. Water consumption is reduced by 40% and rainwater can be reused depending on local codes. In the classroom, organic waste can be composted, other bottles cans can be recycled generating no waste. Passive Systems  1. Building Orientations – the doors face south – allows for naturally lite building  2. Windows – are glazed filled with Argon and exceed Energy Stars’ standards  3. Shading – The doors and window are shaded to reduce direct sun in the summer and allow passive heating in the winter.  4. Insulated – R 20 on the ceilings and floors R 13 on the walls.  5. Airtight – Envelope reduces draft and energy loss. Active Systems  1. Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) – provides conditioned fresh air  2. Mini Split – heats or cools the air to the desired temperature  3. Programmable thermostat – Cool to 75, Heat to 72 (only when the space is occupied)  4. Atmospheric Water Generator – Produces safe potable water from the air 5. LED Lighting – with a photo sensor automatically dims lights to a desired 42 fc on the desk Durable  1. Hurricane Straps – Wind resistant up to 120mph. Here’s a cross section of the building components. This entire building works into the curriculum relating the high performing learning environment with existing programs to enhance all subjects with real world applications; IE. The student’s classroom. CHPS has paved the way for high performing learning environments and this Pre-Fab Net Zero Energy classroom is one way we can all RISE. In a time of accelerated climate change, high performing buildings incorporate current building technology. This affords us the opportunity to teach our students about the key concepts surrounding innovation, creativity, and efficiency to build a more resilient and sustainable future. Growing carrier fields incorporate computer programing, and building technology. Outfitting our schools with buildings that echo those lessons enhance education through the built environment. Doing more than just putting students in seats! Thomas Calhoun OpTerra Energy Services, CHPS Board of Directors As a recently appointed CHPS Board Member and advocate for healthy high performance schools, my passion for providing students and teachers a safe, secure, healthy and comfortable place to teach and learn was shaped by my youth growing up on the Northwest side of Chicago. Living in a basement apartment as a young child, I suffered from allergies and asthma. Coal fired power plants in the 1950s and 60s caused inversions that lasted days and created unhealthy conditions. We have come a long way in reducing pollution but many young students in urban environments still suffer from poor environmental conditions in their homes, communities and schools. As a former USAF and school district maintenance engineer and currently as a Senior Program Manager for OpTerra Energy Services, my passion is to provide classrooms that are energy efficient and sustainable. My work with the Council of Great City Schools has been very rewarding as we strive to provide the facilities to the neediest of our nation’s students so they can overcome many social, economic and environmental obstacles and thrive in our country’s urban schools. My vision is to facilitate a successful partnership between CHPS and the Council in the interest of our students and assist all school districts in reducing energy consumption while improving the environmental conditions in their schools. Investing time, talent and resources to improve our schools is critical to our future. These students are the leaders of tomorrow and deserve quality schools. Tom is a veteran business executive with over 26 years of experience leading major educational facilities programs as a public owner's representative. Having served as a public owner both in the Air Force and various K-14 districts, he has developed in-depth knowledge of and sensitivity to local issues and resources. Tom excels at building collaborative partnerships with all staff within organizations while strengthening relationships among all community stakeholders. He is a seasoned business professional who is empathic to every client’s needs while understanding operational and financial resource constraints. He joined OpTerra Energy Services in February 2016. Tom works out of the Solana Beach Office in the Public Market that includes K-14, higher education, local and federal government partners. His large capital program expertise is shared within the operations division as well as business development directors. 4 The Collaborative/Spring Issue Evolution to Revolution: CHPS ORC to PreFAB A Case Study By Modular Building INstitute Photo Curtesy of Modular Building Insttitue,, Copy right of Steve Whittaker Limiting site complications by working on campus and in plant Designed to exceed green codes, saving money on operating costs Solotubes used to regulate natural light, reducing power consumption Maximize student learning space, deliver the smallest footprint Architectural Excellence Ralston Middle School is located roughly 20 miles south of San Francisco. The two-story classrooms were designed to maximize the amount of learning space for students while delivering the smallest footprint possible. Placed on the outer edge of campus the classroom wing had to be as compact as possible with nearby parking and gymnasiums making for a tight placement of the building. The classrooms feature large windows giving students a wonderful view of the San Francisco Bay as well as providing ample natural light. Additionally, dimmer controlled Solotubes allow staff to regulate natural light, reducing power consumption from artificial lighting. Technical Innovation and Sustainability The unique modular construction process allowed Meehleis Modular Building, Inc. to simultaneously prepare the campus as well as begin construction in their plant of the classroom modules. Great care was taken to design the two-story classroom as aesthetically pleasing as possible, while keeping the narrow site requirements in mind. Meehleis also designed and constructed beautiful walkway enclosures on both ends of the wing, providing a unique design element that also serves the students and learning space. Cost Effectiveness With work taking place both on campus and in plant, costly delays of weather, material loss, and unforeseen site complications can be nearly eliminated. Additionally, Meehleis buildings are test fitted to ensure the modules will place correctly and without issue. Individual modules are then completed to the furthest extent possible before being shipped, saving money on expensive on-site work. Ralston was also designed to exceed many green code requirements saving the owners on operating costs. Ralston Middle SChool Dr. Stephany Mason, CHPS Technical Director This issue of The Collaborative demonstrates how prefabricated classrooms and school buildings have emerged as a practical alternative school construction and procurement method. Numerous production models are readily available over a continuum of prefabrication and various construction materials, and many models include sustainable options. The 2016 CHPS PreFABTM Program was designed to incorporate this growing category of school construction into the healthy, high-performance schools movement. The CHPS PreFAB program provides a streamlined process for pre-approval of prefabricated modular classroom models that meet the CHPS Criteria. CHPS PreFAB is based on the 2014 US-CHPS Criteria with two levels of qualification available: CHPS PreFAB™ and CHPS PreFAB Leader™. Under the CHPS PreFAB program, the US-CHPS prerequisites, credits and associated points have been divided between those in the control of the manufacturer, those that must be completed on site, and those that can be achieved either by the manufacturer or by the school. 158 of the 250 possible US-CHPS points are applicable to CHPS PreFAB buildings. For regional approval, all regional CHPS Criteria prerequisites and credit requirements must be met; the required number of points is unchanged (70 for CHPS PrefAB and 100 for CHPS PreFAB Leader) and still based on the US-CHPS point allocation. An integral component of the CHPS PreFAB Program is the Scorecard. The Scorecard is used to indicate which credits are pursued and the supporting documentation provided. The Scorecard details which credits are allocated to the school/site, to the modular unit manufacturer, or can be achieved by either. The Scorecard also provides notes on point allocation and implementation. So take a look and see if this the healthy, high-performance PreFAB pathway is right for you! Is CHPS PreFAB right for you? All brands making credibly greener & healthier products for the built environment The SM/CHPS partnership promotes the use of products with environmental and material health disclosures in K-12 educational facilities.To allocate more resources to our core mission, we will be retiring our High Performance Products Database and partnering with Sustainable Minds. The SM Transparency Catalog is a free, online source that makes it simple and easy for the AEC community to find products that meet the CHPS Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and Material Health Reporting credit requirements, and for manufacturers to communicate the availability of their compliant products. For AEC professionals: Meet the manufacturers who have made the commitment to product transparency. We‘re making it easy to find their products. Free, no login, no ads or sponsored content. For Manufacturers: List your products in the SM Transparency Catalog and get the CHPS discount! For more info contact: mark@sustainableminds.com | 617 401 2269 6 The Collaborative/Spring Issue CHPS Technical Dip Pre-cut material reduced project expenses and time spent on site Photo Curtesy of Modular Building Insttitue Maximize student learning space, deliver the smallest footprint Antonio Maria lugo academy Architectural Excellence Due to the design-assist project approach utilized on this project, the project architect and the modular building design team were able to collaborate on design considerations during the conceptual phase of the project to ensure modular construction systems selected would support the design intent. The project consists of a single structure, which houses an entire charter school campus and the related functional spaces. The building contains 17 classrooms, a library, a kitchen, multi-purpose space, office spaces, interior corridors and interior stairs. The building’s exterior is covered with a vertical metal siding system that utilizes multiple colors and panel profiles, with aluminum and stucco accents to provide a striking architectural presence. The building interior features abundant natural light in every educational space and 10’ high ceilings throughout. The finished building reflects the coordinated efforts of all team members to provide a design focused experience. Technical Innovation and Sustainability The program requirements provided by the client required the building to utilize a central corridor system with interior stairs and elevator, as well as a separate exterior egress system. The client also required 10’ high ceilings throughout the project. Further, alcoves were required in the corridor at irregular spacing to eliminate doorway projections. To meet these requirements Silver Creek Industries developed a series of specialized building frames, which utilized offset columns and cantilevered beams to accommodate the corridors. The building used a mixture of module sizes with concrete floor decks and 14’ floor-to-floor heights. The delivery of the modules to the project site required the preparation of specialized shipping systems in order to accommodate the size and weight of the modules. Special planning was used to organize the interior spaces in a manner that minimized the amount of “close-up” work required on site at the module joint locations. Cost Effectiveness Due to the complexity and scope of the project, the ability to perform the work in a factory environment provided the opportunity for significant cost reductions and increased quality control measures. The careful placement of the restrooms allowed those spaces to be enclosed on all sides within a single module and to leave the factory fully finished. Spaces that could not be enclosed due to size or location were partially finished in the factory and wherever possible the remaining finishes were pre-cut in order to minimize the duration of work onsite. The electrical distribution system was designed to spread subpanels throughout the building to reduce the number of electrical connections made in the field. Where possible the ductwork was designed to be installed within a single module, which eliminated the need for horizontal connections in the field. Abundant natural light in each classroom, reducing energy costs Building in a factory reduced costs and increased quality control a Case study by modular building institute Mike Dieterich is a LEED Accredited Professional, environmental scientist, bestselling author, and award-winning producer. Over the past decade, he has written policies and programs that support sustainable development. His efforts have culminated in the success of passing historic sustainability efforts in Washington, DC. Dieterich has been called upon as an expert for the United States Congress, United Nations Climate Action Forum and has led conversations at Georgetown University and Carnegie Mellon University. His efforts have been featured in The New York Times and various national broadcast outlets. Most recently, his Tedx talk, “A Zero Energy Water Waste Future” addressed the future of energy, water, and waste in our built environment. American Modular Systems (AMS) is one of the largest and most respected modular manufacturers, designs and builds commercial, institutional and educational facilities. With the addition of Gen7 — high-performance, energy-efficient, eco-friendly classrooms — the California-based builder is helping communities create healthy, sustainable learning environments that will benefit students for generations to come. Like to contribute to THE COLLABORATIVE? Submissions are open to CHPS Members in good standing. All articles must be educational, connected to the issue's topic, and related to healthy high performance schools. All articles will feature the name of the author, compayn, and a company logo. If you are interested in learning more or submitting an article, please email Sydney at emuns@chps.net, subject line; THE COLLABORATIVE Submission. * Not all articles will make it past the screening process. Special thanks to our Contributors! Dr. Stephany Mason is the Technical Director at CHPS, working to ensure that every child has the best possible learning environment with the smallest impact on the planet. Dr. Mason has participated in research and standards development related to IAQ, ventilation and sustainability for organizations such as ASTM, ASHRAE, and USGBC. Her prior experience includes Vice-President for Product Testing at Eurofins Air Toxics, Principal Scientist at UL Environment and research faculty member at GA Tech. She has a B.S. from the University of Illinois, an M.S.E. from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Sydney Muns is the new Program Coordinator at CHPS. Though her background is Art History, graduating from Humboldt State University with a BA in Art History & Anthropology, she is insanely passionate about healthy high performance schools...& dogs. SAMUEL KEITH As an innovative and passionate community, we asked ourselves, "how could every community across the country build the best possible schools that improve student performance, reduce the amount of energy being consumed and are less expensive to operate in the long run?" The answer was The Collaborative for High Performance Schools. Become a CHPS member, and join a growing group of committed school districts, government agencies, utility companies, non-profit organizations and private business with one unifying goal: to improve the quality of education for our nation’s children by building the next generation of healthy high performance schools. Membership is FREE for schools & districts. Together, we can make every school an ideal place to learn. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed HOLLY SMITH Become a member or sponsor today JOIN TODAY! April 4th Join us on National Healthy Schools Day NEEP and HMFH Architects are hosting a high performance school tour at Bresnahan Elementary School to celebrate National Healthy Schools Day. When: April 4, 2017 at 3:15 PM – 5:00 PM Where: 333 High Street, Newburyport, MA – Bresnahan Elementary School Who: Architects, Engineers, Facility/Energy Managers, School Administrators, Sustainability Advocates, Other Schools Community Stakeholders How: Register here What better way to celebrate National Healthy Schools Day this year than touring a high performance school? Join us at the Francis T. Bresnahan Elementary School in Newburyport, MA on April 4, 2017 at 3:15 PM for an informational exploration of this CHPS Verified Leader school project. Our tour will be led by HMFH Architects and Superintendent Susan Viccaro who will guide attendees through the facility and highlight high performance features along the way. Learn what characteristics define a high performance school and why they're important in a community’s decision to embrace sustainability, and get a first- hand look at a productive, efficient, and healthy learning environment right here in our region. Bonus: Check out the school's unique way of bringing in community sponsorship to help fund the project. Click here to register. April 26th Green California Summit & Expo Wednesday, April 26th - Thursday, April 27th The Green California Summit was created to support attainment of the sustainability goals that the Golden State has set and to showcase strategies, best practices and products that can contribute to the attainment of these goals. The Summit provides a forum where innovations in policy, technology and practice can be showcased and shared. For those who are responsible for creating and managing programs for state and local government and educational institutions, it provides an annual opportunity to find out what's new and what's working. For companies, it offers a chance to build relationships with decision makers from the nation's largest marketplace for green products and services. Education sessions are led by expert practitioners who share their knowledge and successful actions. The Expo offers attendees another kind of educational experience: a chance for hands-on exposure to technologies and services that can play a critical role in the planning, design and execution of green projects. To learn more about this event, click here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd takimata sanctus est ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr. CALENDAR Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consetetur RACHEL GOMEZ Kenneth JoneS Making every school an ideal place to learn Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed