Page 60 - ArchDC Spring_2017

ArchDC Spring 2017.qxp_Spring 2017 2/22/17 2:55 PM Page 58

Student Commons in the Middle School,
with grand staircase/seating in the background.

The project was designed to LEED Gold standards. There
aren’t any bravado sustainable features, but it is still an impressive
accomplishment especially given the budget limitations. Special
attention was paid to LEED points that relate to the character of the
spaces, such as daylighting and views out, to provide stimulation
for the students and faculty. Similarly, “bioretention facilities,” also
known as rain gardens, take care of most of the stormwater runoff,
though green roofs, which are more expensive than rain gardens,
were provided on two lower roofs that are visible from third-
floor classrooms.
After the new building was completed, the older building was
renovated to be the new Elementary School. The basic pre-existing
configuration was maintained, with the teachers’ “collaborative
work spaces” occupying non-standard classroom-sized spaces.
Studio Twenty Seven emphasized careful lighting in lieu of larger
windows or the originally planned architectural “subtractions.”
The Elementary School moved into the renovated building in
fall 2016, finally unifying the campus. Achievement Prep’s students
are passing standardized tests at rates much higher than average
for DC, especially in math and science. In some cases, their test
scores match or exceed those from schools in more affluent areas,
a ringing endorsement of the curriculum and a fulfillment of the
school’s mission. In addition, Washington Highlands now boasts
its first piece of high-design, 21st-century architecture.
Multipurpose Room.
58 ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENT