Project Profile: Jacob E. Manch Elementary

We are excited to add a ‘Project Profiles’ section to our blog. Here you will find details/photos on completed SIPs projects and see how versatile SIPs can be for many different building applications such as: Residential, Commercial, Multi-Family Housing, Education and Native American. We will constantly add to our Project Profile collection. Click on the black ‘Follow’ button to the right to receive automatic email updates as new stories and project profiles are posted. Feel free to contact us directly with any questions.

PROJECT PROFILE: Jacob E. Manch Elementary | Las Vegas, Nevada | View Project Profile (pdf)

“This was the fastest form of construction we have ever used, we have built with CMU, Steel, Wood framing, you name it and these SIPs were the best thing we have ever experienced on a job of this magnitude.” – Martin Harris Construction

Jacob E. Manch Elementary, Las Vegas, NV

School districts across the United States are increasingly under pressure to manage capital construction and operating costs. When new or remodel construction is needed, many face numerous hurdles, including rapid student population growth requiring larger facilities, and limited funding from local tax levies to pay for building development, along with energy costs to provide a conducive learning environment.

When Clark County School District (Las Vegas, NV) began to plan a new elementary school with a tight budget and construction schedule, project architects SSA Architecture of Las Vegas recommended incorporating structural insulated panels, SIPs, in all exterior walls and roofs for a more efficient and systematic approach to the building’s structure.

The Jacob E. Manch Elementary School is a replacement for an existing building originally constructed in 1963. During the preliminary design stages, the architects determined that materials customarily used in the district – primarily concrete masonry units (CMUs) and tilt-up concrete panels – would not be cost feasible within the approved $20M budget. In addition, with rapidly rising energy costs, the school district was looking for a solution that would reduce heating and cooling demands.

Prior to SIPs, contractor had allocated 12 men for the electrical installation, ended up needing only 3 and reduced their original bid by over $950,000.

SIPs Provided the Following Benefits for Jacob E. Manch Elementary:

1. COST SAVINGS:  Saved approximately one million dollars in direct construction costs
2. SPEEDY CONSTRUCTION:  Reduced the framing schedule from a typical 118-220 days to 45 days (a nearly 80% time savings)
3. REDUCED HVAC REQUIREMENTS:  Reduced HVAC requirements by approximately half, providing both initial capital savings and lower annual heating and cooling bills
4. REDUCED WASTE:  Decreased construction materials waste and resulting disposal fees and environmental impacts
5. REDUCED INTERIOR NOISE:  Reduced interior noise coming from nearby Nellis Air Force Base

View Project Profile (pdf)

 

Jacob E. Manch Elementary, SIPs installation

Project Details

• Architect: SSA Architecture | Las Vegas, NV
• Contractor: Martin Harris Construction | Las Vegas, NV
• Premier Distributor: Shell Building Systems | Sebastopol, CA Project Size: 68,000 Sq. Ft., Single Story
• Premier SIPS Used: 6” Walls, 10” Roof, 6” Interior Partition

 

 

 

 

SIP QUESTIONS

Joe Pasma, PE, Premier SIPS Technical Manager

Contact Joe Pasma, PE, Premier SIPS’ Technical Manager

800.469.8870 x104

joe.pasma@premiersips.com

Ask Joe to Connect With You on LinkedIn | Follow Premier SIPS on LinkedIn

Read more on Premiersips.com

Reducing School Operating Costs via Building Material Choice

Originally published in Educational Facility Planner Magazine, volume 47 issue 1

Education Facility Planner Magazine

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports the country’s school districts spend more than $6 billion per year on energy.  The agency notes that amount exceeds the combined expenditures for computers and textbooks.  Moreover, “up to 30% of a district’s total energy is used inefficiently or unnecessarily.”  While it is possible to retrofit older schools or to implement programs that lower energy consumption, the clear way to use energy most wisely is to design and build schools from the start with that goal in mind.

Read Full Article

School districts typically paid $1.25 per square foot annually for energy in 2008, according to Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.  At that rate, a mid-size district operating 800,000 square feet of facilities spends $1 million or more per year for energy.  Rising energy costs cut into schools’ ability to fund critical educational needs, from books and supplies to teachers.

While it is possible to retrofit older schools or to implement programs that lower energy consumption, the clear way to use energy most wisely is to design and build schools from the start with that goal in mind.  A key is ensuring a tight, well-insulated building envelope.  Educational facility professionals at all levels – from private grade schools to public colleges – are developing ultra-energy-efficient schools with advanced building envelope components such as structural insulated panels (SIPs).

SIPs help reduce energy consumption in educational facilities and other institutional and commercial buildings up to 60% and provide a ready way to help achieve net zero energy status.  As building heating and cooling are a major part of school operating budget costs, lowering energy use is a key way for administrators to save money year after year.

Continue to Read Full Article  in Educational Facility Planner Magazine’s sustainable communities feature: Reducing School Operating Costs via Building Material Choice.   Here you will understand more about SIPS and read about the following schools across the country that used SIPS as their energy efficient building product of choice.

1. Finn Hill Junior High: Kirkland, WA
2. Jacob E. Manch Elementary School:  Las Vegas, NV
3. Little Big Horn College Health & Wellness Center:  Crow Agency, MO
4. San Diego Office of Education’s Camp Cuyamaca, new dorms & lodge:  San Diego, CA
5. Zuni Christian Mission School:  Zuni, New Mexico
6. Portland Oregon Community College, Newberg Center:  Portland, OR

Want more?  See a few articles that we have featured on SIPs school projects on our blog:

1. Energy Efficient Culinary Institute to be Certified EA Gold
2. Historic Native American Architecture Successful with SIPS
3. SIPs used in one of Washington State’s most energy efficient schools

Read Full Article

SIPS QUESTIONS?

Joe Pasma, PE, Premier SIPS Technical Manager

Contact Joe Pasma, PE, Premier SIPS’ Technical Manager

joe.pasma@premiersips.com

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn  | Connect with Premier SIPS on LinkedIn

Read more on Premiersips.com

SIPs used in one of Washington State’s most energy efficient schools

Finn Hill Jr. High School, Kirkland WA

It’s been a year since students hit the halls at the new Finn Hill Jr. High School…one of the district’s leader in energy efficiency, sustainability, and progressive learning environments.  Designed by Mahlum Architects, the 115,000 sq. ft. school used Premier SIPs for the walls and roof to ready their energy reduction goals.  We wrote about this project last year before the grand opening ceremonies.  With extensive daylighting and an innovative HVAC system, the school is 47 percent more efficient than the ENERGY STAR median and is considered zero energy ready.  Finn Hill Jr. High School currently receives roughly 40 percent of its power from rooftop photovoltaics.

Read the complete case history via the Structural Insulated Panel Association for more on this unique, sustainable project.

Project Profile:

• Location:  Kirkland, WA
• Architect:  Mahlum Architects
• Builder:  Babbit Neuman Construction
• SIPs:  200,000 square feet of Premier SIPs roof & walls
• Building Size:  115,925
• View Finn Hill Jr. High School Construction Photos

What We Build: The Impacts (and Facts) On Where We Live, Work & Play

Written by:  John Vanderhoof, Premier SIPS Sales, LEED GA

The built environment includes all of the physical structures engineered and built by people–the places where we live, work, and play. These frameworks include our homes, workplaces, schools, parks, and transit arrangements.  Where we live, work and play everyday has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health, and productivity.

In the United States alone, buildings account for:

•    72% of electricity consumption

•    39% of energy use

•    38% of all carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions

•    40% of raw materials use

•    30% of waste output (136 million tons annually)

•    14% of potable water consumption.

BENEFITS OF GREEN AND ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING

Environmental benefits:

• Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
• Improve air and water quality
• Reduce solid waste
• Conserve natural resources

Economic benefits:

• Reduce operating costs
• Enhance asset value and profits
• Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
• Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Health and community benefits:

• Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environments
• Enhance occupant comfort and health
• Minimize strain on local infrastructure
• Contribute to overall quality of life

Everywhere you turn, there are advertisements, new companies or celebrities telling you why to live and build Energy Efficient.  The environmental measures and stats should stand on their own.  Where can you find these?  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a huge resource with publications, research and tools at our fingertips….below are some links that we find useful to guide you through the facts on living and building for the environment.

GREEN BUILDING TOOLS/INFORMATION:

• Green Homes, key environmental and energy-efficient issues while at home (issues by room)
• Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings
• Healthy School Environments

ENERGY EFFICIENT TOOLS

• EPA Power Profiler (by zip code)- how clean is the electricity you use?
• Green Power Locator (by state)
• Special Offers/Rebate Finder (by zip code)

PROTECTING CHILDREN’S HEALTH

• Facts about children’s environmental health.  FOR EXAMPLE- In 2002, children 5-17 years old missed 14.7 million school days due to asthma- can you imagine what that statistic is today??
• What can I do to protect children from environmental health risks? FOR EXAMPLE- Promote healthier communities by Spearheading a clean school bus campaign in your community to help reduce public school bus emissions.
• I want more- where can I find publications and studies about children’s environmental health?