As one of the Boise School District’s aging buildings, Highlands Elementary, located in Boise’s north end, had become energy inefficient, non ADA compliant, with outdated classrooms and lacking adequate learning spaces meeting the needs of today’s educations standards. With the community’s backing, the School District elected to construct a new school to replace the original.
The new 42,223 s.f. school is built on the existing sloping site, allowing the gymnasium and cafeteria to be on the playground level for easy access. An interior ramp connects to the Sixteen classrooms that accommodate the K – 6th programs, four resource rooms, an administration suite, a media center, and a music room.
The new school design uses a continuous insulation exterior wall system that incorporates maintenance-free brick and porcelain tile. As a result, the Energy Code is exceeded by 26.9% while creating the residential character that the neighborhood demanded. An excellent fit for the site and community is a win-win.