Balfour Beatty Construction installs the first of its kind net-zero classroom buildings for Oak Park Unified School District

Buildings are made of 85% reclaimed materials and are able to achieve net-zero energy
Aug 28, 2014 3:30 PM ET
Oak Park High School modular classroom buildings

SAN DIEGO, August 28, 2014 /3BL Media/ - In collaboration with the Oak Park Unified School District, Balfour Beatty Construction installed seven net-zero modular classroom buildings made of single use containers used for ocean shipping at Oak Park High School. The project marks the first use of this type of modular building approved by the California Division of State Architect.

Leaders of multiple school districts attended a groundbreaking ceremony held on August 5, 2014 to view the installation. “We are thrilled to partner with the Oak Park Unified School District as leaders in innovative and sustainable learning spaces,” said Brian Cahill, Balfour Beatty Construction’s Southwest division president. “Achieving this milestone is both rewarding and the right thing to do for our communities and future generations.”

The $2 million project replaces six 25 year-old temporary classrooms at the high school with seven new permanent classroom buildings. The 960-square-foot buildings are designed and fabricated by GrowthPoint Structures and are made from Intermodal Steel Building Units. The buildings are anticipated to achieve net-zero energy consumption, save 115 tons of landfill waste through the use of using 85% reclaimed material, and use high performing and energy efficient systems that reduce monthly utility costs.

Each building features full LED lighting, ductless HVAC systems, floor-to-ceiling windows, and solar panels classifying the buildings as “ultra-green” and automatically qualifies for 37 LEED credits or 42 CHPS credits.

“Installing net-zero classrooms was an obvious choice for us as we strive to achieve a better environment for our students,” said Dr. Tony Knight, superintendent of the Oak Park Unified School District. “Studies show a brighter, healthier space increases test scores, makes learning a better experience for our kids, improves student achievement, and enhances the learning environment. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

This project is part of the Oak Park Measure R Facilities Improvement Program and Construction Management Services where Balfour Beatty Construction has provided pre-construction and construction management with design-assist services to the District for the past six years.

Balfour Beatty Construction’s project team working on the classroom installation project includes Dennis Kuykendall, senior project manager; Keith Henderson, construction manager, Rob Perks, project manager; Boris Chernin, assistant project manager; Michael Farwell, project engineer; and Sophia Limon, project accountant. The project architect is KPI Architects.

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About Balfour Beatty Construction
An industry leader for more than 80 years, Balfour Beatty Construction Services US provides general contracting, at-risk construction management, and design-build services for a wide variety of markets, serving clients in both the public and private sector. With more than 3,000 employees across the U.S., the company has been cited as a Top 10 Domestic Building Contractor and Top 10 Green Builder by Engineering News-Record. The company is part of London-based Balfour Beatty plc, a global infrastructure services business operating in more than 80 countries, with a worldwide commitment to providing assets that help societies function, develop, and thrive. To learn more about the company, visit www.balfourbeattyus.com or look for BalfourBeattyUS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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