To accommodate a growing community and increasing student body, the Nazareth Area School District set out to develop a new middle school through a decidedly holistic integrative approach. Chosen for optimum community impact, the new facility’s location creates a “campus” relationship with the existing adjacent high school allowing convenient community access to both schools’ resources and reduces bus traffic.

Working closely with the project team and D’Huy Engineering, 7group led the integrative design process and shared LEED expertise throughout the design, specifications and documentation phases. 7group’s daylighting analysis and energy modeling services reduced the school’s overall energy consumption by 54.1% through implementation of integrated energy saving measures throughout all aspects and spaces of the building, including the school’s auditorium, gymnasium and natatorium. Aiding in the school’s LEED Gold certification, 7group performed fundamental and enhanced commissioning to ensure the school fulfilled its performance goals.

Early in the design process the project team established goals that shaped the final design of the 2-story school, including the building’s orientation to maximize daylighting and organizing locations of instructional programs to streamline student traffic. A 574 kW array of rooftop solar panels provides approximately 26% of the school’s annual electrical energy needs while installed monitoring systems measure energy use and control the facility’s HVAC and mechanical equipment. A lighting control system monitors daylighting sensors throughout the building and outdoor areas to adjust dimmable ballasts and daylighting shelves in classrooms. To maximize open space, stormwater drainage and retention areas were creatively distributed throughout the 33.5-acre site, which also includes walking trails, outdoor classrooms, a greenhouse and composting site, along with numerous athletic fields, all containing water efficient landscaping.