Terraset Elementary School in Reston, Va., opened in 1977, at a time when open classroom layouts were in and fewer students needed the learning space. To meet the needs of today’s students, the design team and school administrators set out to transform the school with a traditional concept that involved renovation and expansion. While Fairfax County does not require schools to follow LEED certification, sustainable principles were used with a focus on material durability and mechanical system efficiency. This served as a natural extension of the school’s original energy-conservative concept that included a unique "earth-cover" system. Citadel Architectural Products’ Envelope 2000® Deep-Reveal (DRV) System fit into the school district’s cost-effective sustainable plan while both updating the building and respecting its architectural character.
“The original building was conceived as an energy-conservative building and became an immediate point of interest in northern Virginia,” says Rusty Shaw, AIA, senior vice president of Architecture, Incorporated, Reston. “The modernization reaffirms the revolutionary nature of Terraset’s creation, a school ‘set in the earth.’ It is a re-imagined education environment that celebrates its notable architectural heritage. This commitment to maintaining the integrity of the original design while adding new signature design elements is unique and noteworthy. The school principal’s enthusiasm for the design process and resulting facility is genuine and reflects the level of accolades the project has received.”