Our Campus

 

Since 1904, The Potomac School has cultivated an intimate connection between children and nature. In a series of generous and farsighted acts, the School has acquired a remarkable resource for teaching, in the form of our varied, 90-acre campus, including woods, streams, and ponds. This inheritance of land is entrusted to each generation of students, teachers, and School leaders, not to own, but to use creatively and responsibly, and to preserve for others to come. Such a large and complex landscape requires continual, informed, and conscientious management. The School is committed to preserving and enhancing this long-term relationship between the students and the land, for the benefit of both.

In 1951, Potomac moved to McLean, Virginia. Our new state-of-the-art Upper School opened in September 2006 and it includes a host of green features outlined below. Beginning in May 2008, the School will begin construction of a new Lower School and administration building. These buildings will be environmentally sustainable.


Green Features of the New Upper School

 The Potomac School’s new Upper School (US) facility, which includes two new buildings and a renovated existing building, was designed and renovated to be environmentally-sound and sustainable, energy efficient, and high performance. The architects sought ways to connect indoor spaces to the outdoors, supporting the original design of the campus. Our architects followed many Green Building practices throughout the design process.

 Renovation of the Existing US Building

The decision to renovate rather than replace the existing building set the course for an environmentally sound building process. The renovation included upgrading to energy efficient windows and lighting, and resulted in cost-savings as well as environmental benefits.

Green Roof

A highlight of the new East building is the Green Roof over the biology labs. Green Roofs are being introduced in this country and throughout the world to reduce storm water run- off and dependence on artificial heating and air conditioning systems. Our science teachers are finding ways to use the Green Roof in their curriculum.

Roofing materials throughout the buildings have been selected to reflect light and conserve energy.

Window Quality and Orientation

The orientation of the windows takes advantage of natural light. All windows have special glass tinted with a low e coating (the most heat-efficient material in building design). Some have a ceramic frit fused to the glass surface which acts like a blind and reduces heat build up.

Special glass features have been designed as appropriate to the particular orientation. For example, north and east-facing windows have clear low-e coating; south and west windows have additional green tinting to further reduce heat gain.

All rooms with windows can be opened to avoid using air-conditioning on many days in the spring and fall. Rooms at grade have doors to the outside.

 New Technology in Lighting

Energy efficient lighting is employed throughout the new and existing buildings. The classroom lights provide both down light and up light. The up light is bounced off the ceiling for light quality and efficiency. Corridor lights outside classrooms use a new technology for light quality.

Occupancy sensors for light switches ensure that lights go off when the classrooms and staff rooms are empty.

HVAC Plant

Building a dedicated plant and thus using the same equipment to serve multiple buildings will result in significant energy savings.

 Hand Sensors in Restrooms

Hand sensors on restroom faucets ensure that water is not left running longer than needed.