Donna ISD 3-D Academy Goes Green
Texas Border Business
(MCALLEN, Texas – November 21, 2013) ERO Architects in McAllen, Texas has announced that it has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for one of its designs – Donna Independent School District’s 3-D Academy. The designation for sustainable design came early November after the building passed the strict standards of the U.S. Green Building Council. It is the first LEED Certified public school in the Rio Grande Valley.
“We are very proud to be part of this project. This is a wonderful achievement for ERO Architects and for Donna ISD,” said ERO Architects Chief Financial Officer Manuel Hinojosa, FAIA. “Our design approach has always been to recommend sustainable measures that are practical, easy to maintain and provide the most efficient use of budgetary costs, while maintaining a positive end-user experience.”
The building, which opened last year, includes seven classrooms, two computer labs, administrative offices and a cyber café. It features double glazed windows with low-emittance, which lowers the total heat flow through the windows. Low VOC paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants were selected to reduce indoor air contaminants and 75 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills. Due to the design decisions made regarding indoor climate control and water consumption, the school district has experienced 12 percent savings in energy costs and 30 percent savings in utility costs.
But the building itself is not the only thing that makes Donna 3-D Academy such a noteworthy project. The three D’s stand for dedication, desire and determination. The students walking through the halls of the school are getting a second chance at achieving academic success by obtaining a high school diploma. The Donna 3-D Academy is geared toward young adults, ages 18-25, who attended school through the 12th grade, but did not graduate. Students are able to earn college credits while completing their high school education through a dual enrollment program designed to encourage them to pursue a college degree.
To learn more about ERO Architects, visit www.goERO.com.
