Denver historic school rehab aims to be green model

The National Trust for Historic Preservation will demonstrate how to improve energy efficiency in older buildings in a rehab of a 19th-Century former school building in Denver. Constructed in 1885, the Emerson School is two-story masonry structure, with a one-story “cottage school” added in 1917. The 20,000 sf timber-frame building has thick masonry walls, large windows, and high ceilings. (http://www.greenbuildingpro.com/articles/57-features/3273-greening-a-historic-school)
Sept. 7, 2011

The National Trust for Historic Preservation will demonstrate how to improve energy efficiency in older buildings in a rehab of a 19th-Century former school building in Denver. Constructed in 1885, the Emerson School is two-story masonry structure, with a one-story “cottage school” added in 1917. The 20,000 sf timber-frame building has thick masonry walls, large windows, and high ceilings.
(http://www.greenbuildingpro.com/articles/57-features/3273-greening-a-historic-school)

The Trust is spending $2.1 million in hard building costs to convert the school to a center for historic preservation groups and other nonprofits. Work will include installing a geothermal HVAC system, repairing original wood windows, replacing inefficient light fixtures, and opening up the interior to restore passive ventilation and natural lighting schemes. Models suggest that energy consumption will be more than 40% below the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline after reconstruction. The trust has also committed to a target of net-zero resource consumption at the school by 2030. 

About the Author

Drew Ballensky

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.’s central U.S. facility in Iowa and company spokesman for Duro-Last’s cool roofing, sustainability and architectural education programs. He is past-president of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association and chairman of CFFA’s Vinyl Roofing Division. Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University. Drew has over 29 years experience in business and industry in various engineering and managerial capacities. He has worked in the U.S. and Canadian operations for a major international manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings, was a financial analyst with a major athletic apparel manufacturer and was an owner of a general contracting company.
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