Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 282

3 SOUTHWEST VALLEY SCHOOLS 5 THE SOUTHWEST VALLEY REPUBLIC WEEKEND EDITION, DECEMBER 9, 2ob6 Verrado proud of being designated 'green school' BETTY REIDTHE REPUBLIC Verrado High School is designed to protect the environment and is efficient in its use of energy. so much about environmentally friendliness, it is so important to be able to see outside while you are inside and really connect with the environment." Each space at Verrado High, with the exception of the computer lab, has sunlight. Natural light, Lobo said, has benefits to learning as welt as reducing energy bills. California-based Heschong Mahone Group, which studies the impact of daylight on people, in 2004 found that students with the most sunlight in classrooms improved 20 percent faster on math tests and 26 percent quicker on reading tests in one year. The Verrado building also encourages students to learn about the campus because its high ceiling exposes large pipes and the students are able to see how the building was put together.

Verrado High School Address: 20050 W. Indian School Road, Buckeye. District: Aqua Fria Union High School. Cost $136 million. Project she: 220,000 square feet.

Source: OrcuttWinslow By Betty Reid BETT Y-RE I D(AR I ZfJNAREPUBLIC.COM Verrado Highchool's bathroom urinals lack water. That's cool, because the campus in the Agua Fria Union High School District is "a green school," meaning the building is designed to protect the environment and is energy efficient. The West Valley campus is flush with architecture aimed at saving energy, water and space, and it is the second Agua Fria high school given a green school designation, after Desert Edge. They are the only two green high schools in Arizona. This means bathroom urinals are waterless.

The water is replaced by an odorless cartridge that absorbs like a septic leach field. Students can also expect to see more recycling bins, light sensors in classrooms, more light splashed into the building and plenty of space for learning. Providing space at the school for community use is also an element of the two-story building, which has the ambience of a mall and a library that feels like a Barnes Noble bookstore. Aqua Fria educators tapped Or-cuttWinslow to plan and design Ver- By the numbers Verrado High School is a green school and is certified as a Leadership in Energy Environmental Design, or LEED, structure. It is expected to protect the environment and is cost-efficient when compared with a standard school building The school cuts water use by roughly 23 percent through low-flow fixtures, waterless urinals and low-flow showers and hand-wash stations.

About 85 percent of the building material was found in the community. This includes structural steel, hollow metal doors, brick and masonry, sealants, paints and coatings, and carpet. The school is 28 percent more energy-efficient and a savings of $50,000 per year is expected. It has high-efficiency lighting, daylight and occupancy Sensors and daylight and light controls. It also has insulated block walls and roof.

Source: OrcuttWinslow rado High. The school has 302 freshmen and is partially open now, with full operation scheduled for January. It is designed to accommodate 1,600 students. Architect Caroline Lobo, who has been with OrcuttWinslow for eight years, shared the high school's environmentally friendly features this week. The school is lit by sunlight from the north and south.

"What happens with schools is once you enter in, thaf it, you are in and you don't have (any) connection to the outdoors," Lobo said. "The fact that we talk tJ Li J) Li NO REASONABLE OFFER IS REFUSED! We have the highest quality sectionals, sofas, loveseats, chairs and With the price you are looking for! AC TORY OUTLET SHOWROOM QUALITY LEATHER FURNITURE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES i 1 iw-ii-Wwm rmmi. Jjfamjiin.iwa im q.i.i. Wf my IlAlll RECLINER CHAISE 1, Sj6" RiocSoSArsHAist irtj5TfWfW''l Kill HJI ftn mmx-vmm Prices valid thru Monday, December 18th MANY PIECES IN STOCK AVAILABLE FOR CHRISTMAS DELIVERY! 1 i jjluiMijUMlliill.t. II L.i -111 CIV 1, ft I.