Objectives
The design goal for the Kūlanihākoʻi High School was to be sustainable and serve as an example for future schools in Hawaii. It needed to be beautiful, low maintenance, and durable. Initially, the Department of Education (DOE) was concerned about building maintenance and mitigating the wind-borne dirt and dust that blow down the slopes of Haleakala mountains. The solution had to be both cost-effective and low-maintenance.
Solutions
The design team built the campus with Ground Face CMU because of its low cost, low maintenance requirements, and beautiful finish. Ground Face CMU walls keep the interior spaces cool throughout the hot Kihei days and release the heat in the evenings. To increase sunlight in the building, the architects strategically positioned large glass window panels along the north side of the building. They used masonry walls and smaller windows around the rest of the building to minimize heat from the sun warming the interior space. The construction team used neutral tan and brown CMUs for the campus to hide dirt and help the building harmonize with the surrounding environment.
Results
This project will be HI-CHPS certified, similar to LEED, but the DOE uses HI-CHPS to achieve and document sustainable design for schools in Hawaii. The school will minimize energy demand and supplement power with solar PV generation to reach net zero energy. Besides the HI-CHPS certification, the team is pursuing a Living Building Futures–Net Zero Building certification. Kūlanihākoʻi High School shows that sustainability is achievable on a modest budget while providing an inspiring learning environment for future generations.
Team & Location
Owner: Hawaii State Department of Education
Designer: G70
Producer: Tileco Inc.
Installers: Affiliated Construction, Nordic PCL Construction
Project Location: Kihei, HI