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2008 Exhibition of School
Planning and Architecture
Bulverde Green Elementary
School
San Antonio, Texas
Elementary School
Design Concept
Pfluger Associates Architects
Bulverde Green Elementary School
Sustainable Mission
Community Environment:
North East Independent School District
serves an area of San Antonio, Texas that is
experiencing rapid growth. The District
decided to utilize this opportunity to
develop a new prototype for their
Elementary Schools.
With the current trend towards “green”
technologies, the District chose to
participate in the United States Green
Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) program. The
participation in this program represents the
Districts commitment to providing safe,
healthy, and energy efficient schools to the
surrounding community.
Accessible Campus
Community Environment – Continued
It was important to the district that this new
prototype be user and community friendly.
The facility should serve the community and
be available for after hour use.
Natural stone is juxtaposed against
expansive glass and colorful classroom pods.
The building extends a welcoming
expression to all that visit.
A separate entrance has been provided at
each large programmed space, to allow the
community to utilize the cafeteria,
gymnasium, and media center for afterhours community events.
Sustainable Concepts
Incorporated into the
Curriculum
Learning Environment
Upon first entering the rotunda at the
school’s entrance, students experience the
building as a lesson in the science of
sustainability. The lesson begins at the
Entry/Upper Level of the two-story Core
Information Commons, where the building
footprint is inlayed in the upper-level floor
pattern.
In the ceiling above, the orb shaped light
fixtures are metaphors for the planets. A
graphic of the earth is inlayed in the lowerlevel floor pattern. The reflection of the
light fixtures above are symbolic of a
constellation on a starry night.
CORE COMMONS
ENTRY/UPPER LEVEL
LOWER LEVEL
School as Teaching Tool
Learning Environment - Continued
As the students progress further into the
building, they continue their educational
journey. Each Information Commons
represents a study on the six different core
concepts of the LEED for Schools program:
SITE SUSTAINABILITY
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
MATERIALS AND METHODS
WATER EFFICIENCY
ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE
INNOVATION AND DESIGN
KINDERGARTEN:
SITE
SUSTAINABILITY
FIRST GRADE:
INDOOR
ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY
SECOND GRADE:
MATERIALS AND
METHODS
THIRD GRADE:
WATER EFFICIENCY
FOURTH GRADE:
ENERGY AND
ATMOSPHERE
FIFTH GRADE::
INNOVATION AND
DESIGN
These concepts are taught in the school’s
curriculum, to allow the students to learn
through their physical environment.
The intricate patterns give identity to each
grade level cluster while reinforcing the
districts sustainable mission.
Integrated Concepts
Physical Environment
The grade level identification extends to the
exterior of the buildings. This continuation
of color, materials and pattern from exterior
to interior helps students, teachers and
community members relate comfortably to
the building.
These way finding tools are integrally
designed into the building rather than
achieved through signage or other applied
materials.
This building experience teaches visitors
about their relationship to the surrounding
environment.
Sensitive Design
Physical Environment - Continued
The schools design is centered around
sustainable design principles:
Daylight Harvesting
Southern Exposure Shading
Solar Glass
Low Maintenance Building Materials
Native Plants
Light & Occupancy Sensors
Energy Modeling
Water Cooled Chillers
Indigenous Materials
Solar and Wind Analysis
High Recycled Content Aluminum Siding
Undisturbed Site
High Reflective Roof & Parking
Automated HVAC Sensors
School as Community
Planning Process:
Flat, level sites are difficult to find within
North East ISD. The prototype under
development must account for the fact that
there is often a steep slope across the site.
The design team organized the building
program to allow for the natural fall of the
site.
The entry level is on the “high” side of the
site. A circular “rotunda” acts as an
orienting device to provide a singular point
of entry that can be monitored by the
school’s administrative staff.
The academic areas are divided into gradelevel clustered that are centered around
“information commons”.
Concept Implementation
Planning Process - Continued
The District recognized a need to improve its
facility design to serve elementary schoolaged students. A committee made up of all
stakeholders toured numerous elementary
schools across Texas. The Superintendent
charged the group to seek the best practices
that support elementary school curriculum
to integrate into the new facility design.
Many hours of collaboration and teamwork
resulted in a “PLACE” not just a “space” for
these elementary school students.
Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture
2008 Project Data
Submitting Firm :
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
Pfluger Associates Architects
Project Architect
Kent Niemann, AIA
Partner
1917 N. New Braunfels, Suite 201
San Antonio, Texas 78208
(210) 227-2724
Joint Partner Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
Other Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
Construction Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
None – Not our for bid yet
Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture
2008 Project Details
Project Name
Bulverde Green Elementary School
City
San Antonio
State
Texas
District Name
North East Independent School District
Supt/President
Dr. Richard Middleton / Beth Plummer
Occupancy Date
Fall 2010
Grades Housed
Pre K – 5th
Capacity(Students)
1000 | 1200 core
Site Size (acres)
20.18 acres
Gross Area (sq. ft.)
122,600 SF
Per Occupant(pupil)
122.6
gross/net please indicate
Design and Build?
NO
If yes, Total Cost:
Includes:
If no,
Site Development:
$3,639,560
Building Construction:
$22,349,712
Fixed Equipment:
$2,010,728
Other:
Total:
$28,000,000
Supplemental Images
Supplemental Images
Supplemental Images