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Kiowa County Schools

The first LEED Platinum K-12 school in the U.S. creates a space for students centered on well-being, productivity and enhanced learning.

Information

Location Greensburg, Kansas
Size 125,000 SF
Completion 2010
Services Architecture
Project Type Education Centers
Certification LEED Platinum

After all of its facilities were destroyed in an EF-5 tornado that struck Greensburg, Kansas, in May 2007, the Kiowa County School District (USD-422) decided to rebuild in an expeditious, sustainable, high-performance and progressive manner. In its quest to embrace the spirit of the Greensburg community and commitment to LEED Platinum design, BNIM and the School District constructed new educational and public use facilities that accommodate and enhance the District’s educational mission in an outstanding and high quality way. Rather than developing low, first-cost buildings, the District created buildings that are a source of pride and will bring value to the community for decades to come. The school facilities are designed to serve 350+ students, include Pre-K & Kindergarten, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School students. The program encompassed the design of a library, distance learning center, science labs, main gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium, art music wing, courtyards, playgrounds, cafeteria and kitchen, and football stadium/track and field. The facility also includes an above-grade FEMA-compliant storm shelter large enough to accommodate the entire population of the school.

In 2011, the Kiowa County Schools became the first LEED Platinum K-12 school facility in the U.S.

Impact + Innovation

As one of the first civic buildings in Greensburg to be constructed to meet LEED Platinum standards, Kiowa County School serves as a major community focal point; a catalyst for future building; a regional leader in environmentally responsible educational facilities; as well as a tool to promote student health, productivity, and enhanced learning. The school’s design incorporates innovative sustainable strategies, particularly related to daylighting, building envelope, site, resource use, energy production, rainwater harvesting, furniture and fixture selection, and building materials. In particular, the new school features design strategies and integrated systems to achieve net zero energy and water. The school facilities meet the highest and best value both in the short-term and over the entire lifecycle of the buildings, and its sustainable design features ensure financial returns to the school district year after year.

BNIM designed the stormwater filtration system and all site components including bioswales, raingardens, walking trails, streetscape, bridges, gathering nodes, educational garden plots, playgrounds, and stadium. Runoff from the K-12 school is piped into a galvanized steel trough, raingardens, and then a concrete trough headed toward the underground cistern. Runoff from the high school is picked up by a series of downspouts and connected to the collection spine with concrete troughs. In all, six large cisterns are connected in an integrated strategy

Process

The Greensburg rebuilding process is a successful example of how sustainable planning ensures sustainable community development. The public involvement process emerged as one of the most important factors that led to a unified community vision and goals, high performance design, and successful implementation. Over 300 people gathered under a large tent raised on the east edge of town, eager to share their ideas for rebuilding. The tent remained a community gathering space throughout the recovery process, hosting several design workshops and community meetings. Throughout the design process for Kiowa County School, every decision was weighed against a single question: How does this benefit the students? The Greensburg student was at the heart of all design strategies, each material selection, every project meeting, and all allocations of fund. The result is a new Greensburg school that truly responds to the needs of each student and exemplifies the spirit of the student community.

People

Team

Hans Nettelblad
Sam De Jong
Casey Cassias
Joe Keal
Therese Allinder
Christina Assmann
Brian McKinney
Brad Clark
Mark O'Hara
Jean Dodd
Matt Schuepbach
Greg Pfau
Brian Rock
Mike Pollmann
Laura Pastine
Joshua Kriz
James Schuessler
Michael Gekas
Timothy Duggan
Sebren Ryan Camp
Aaron Ross
Ramana Koti
Kristin Long
Celine Armstrong

Client

Greensburg School District - USD 422

BNIM designed a high-performance facility that embraces the spirit of the community and sets a new standard for sustainable design in a K-12 educational facility. The school will be a source of pride in our community for decades to come. Before the tornado, if you asked most of the high school kids about their plans for the future, they’d say the same thing: ‘I’m going to go away to college and never come back.’ Now, they say, ‘I’m going to go to college and then come back.’ They see things here that they can impact.

Darin Headrick, Superintendent of Schools, Greensburg School District - USD 422

I like the restraint in this project.”

“The restraint works well in lieu of the typical myriad of graphics and color often found in K-12 schools. It fits the prairie context well.

2011 AIA Kansas, Design Awards Jury Comments