DPS first in Triangle to have elementary LEED certified school

DURHAM – Durham Public Schools leads North Carolina’s Research Triangle region in achieving the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rated elementary school, W.G. Pearson Elementary School. 

Designed by Moseley Architects, Pearson Elementary is the state’s second elementary school to receive the rating that distinguishes high-performance buildings – those that have less of an impact on the environment, are healthier for those who occupy the building, and operationally more affordable. 

Pearson’s environmentally-friendly focused design, now certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, reflects the positive commitment that Durham’s educational facilities have championed for its school community.  At the 2005 ceremonial groundbreaking, school system officials applauded Durham voters for their approval of the vision and $13.3 million in funding that would drive the new “green” campus.

Today, the two-story, 82,000-square-foot school delivers small and large benefits for its enrollment of 600-plus students.  Bike racks support healthy, alternative transportation, and native and drought-tolerant plant species landscape the facility eliminating the need for a permanent irrigation system.  Exterior light pollution is reduced by full cutoff, Dark Sky compliant fixtures.

Inside the building, green construction materials were used to improve air quality; adhesives, sealants, paints and carpet contain low or no volatile organic compounds; and green-guard Indoor Air Quality certified systems were selected for furniture and seating. Conserving resources and transportation costs, building materials contain recycled content and were locally manufactured.  Technologies for increasing energy heating and cooling efficiencies were incorporated as well as water-efficient plumbing fixtures to reduce water use, a reflective roof to lower the building’s heat dependency, and large windows to harvest sunlight and cut electricity demand.

Green design features of the facility have reduced water-use by 27 percent – important for North Carolina’s drought response action.

“As Durham Public Schools continues to grow, it is imperative that as we add space we also increase our efforts toward being environmentally responsible,” said Hugh Osteen, DPS Assistant Superintendent of Operational Services. “We are dedicated to ensuring that our buildings, old and new alike, are as environmentally friendly as possible.”

“This is a big step in the right direction to give students and teachers an incentive to work in a first-class learning environment, to give schools the means to operate efficiently, and Durham praise for conserving their natural resources,” said Jim Copeland, Moseley Architects’ vice president.

“Durham Public Schools is proud to be leading the way in the Triangle and Central region of North Carolina with ‘green’ buildings for our schools,” said DPS Superintendent Carl Harris. “Not only is it an indication of our doing our best to conserve, but it also is a tangible example for our students of what can be done to protect the environment.”