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The Reece School
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North Central Junior High
PS 253QNorth Central Junior High
Filtered natural light may eliminate the need for artificial light in a junior high school.
The 82,000 square foot North Central Junior High School, designed by Neumann Monson Architects, consists of two-levels. The facility’s main entrance, grand staircase and student commons are centrally located and organize the building between the two levels and between east and west wings. The south facade of the building curves gently to mimic the sun’s passage allowing southern perimeter windows to admit maximum daylight throughout the day while exterior sunscreens eliminate glare.
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The building has been designed and built according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s high performance guidelines. Natural light is optimized, indoor air quality is superior, and the building is designed to reduce maintenance and operating costs while using materials whose environmental impact is minimal. A geothermal system heats and cools the building and energy consumption and operating costs are projected to be dramatically lower than average.
Perimeter windows afford beautiful views of the natural surroundings while north-facing clerestory windows admit filtered, non-glaring daylight from above for second level classrooms. Artificial lights are linked to sensors, and are activated automatically. Even on cloudy days artificial light may not necessary. The cafeteria and media center use large expanses of glass, which provide views to the adjacent creek and sloping terrain.
The building’s exterior incorporates previously fired “B-grade” bricks that were found in local brickyards. By using these bricks no energy was expended to produce them and the variety of bricks used becomes a design feature, which is symbolic of the region’s bedrock layers.
The building shares a 60-acre site with a new elementary school and a wooded creek bed divides the two sites. This green space will serve as an outdoor classroom and laboratory for teachers and students. The facility was designed with the infrastructure in place to support the 12 additional classrooms that will be added in the future.
Formal name of project: North Central Junior High
Location: North Liberty, Iowa
Gross square footage: 82,250 sq.ft.
Total construction cost: $10,750,000.00
Owner: Iowa City Community School District
Architect:
Neumann Monson Architects
221 E College Street Suite 303
Iowa City Iowa 52240
www.neumannmonson.com
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