# Richmond’s First New High School in 50 Years Earns LEED Gold 

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/03/richmonds-first-new-high-school-in-50-years-earns-leed-gold/
- Published: 2016-03-28T12:39:09-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

RICHMOND, Va., March 25, 2016 /[PRNewswire](http://www.prnewswire.com)/ — Huguenot
High School in Richmond, VA earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(
LEED®) Gold certification with the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).
Opened in 2015, the 250,000-square-foot building replaced the existing school, which
had been in operation for almost 50 years.

## The new school is a flagship project in _Building a Better Richmond _capital improvement plan.

Also,  it is the first high school built in the city in 48 years. As a STEM-focused
school, Huguenot High School offers students modern technology. In addition to open
learning spaces, two floors of classrooms. As well as a 2,400-square-foot vegetated
roof for coursework. The school is also home to the Huguenot High School Community
Center. One which offers personal wellness and health services.
 [⌊RICHMOND, Va., March 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Huguenot High School in Richmond, VA earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification with the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Opened in 2015, the 250,000-square-foot building replaced the existing school, which had been in operation for almost 50 years. The new school is a flagship project in Building a Better Richmond capital improvement plan.⌉](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/wp-1459168605645.jpeg?quality=52&ssl=1)

Richmond Public Schools partnered with Moseley Architects. That’s to create the 
new school designed to accommodate 1,400 students. The city was eager to work with
the team. Especially to minimize the facility’s environmental impact. All the while
saving resources and operational costs.  The result is a working and learning environment
that inspires students and staff alike.

### Striving for efficiency, the team employed a number of strategies to save water and energy.

The football field is a permeable synthetic turf to promote infiltration. Other 
fields feature irrigation systems that use moisture sensors and efficient valves
and sprays. These efficiencies are expected to reduce irrigation water use by 625,000
gallons per year. Additionally, water efficient plumbing fixtures were used in the
building, reducing water use by over 40 percent compared to standard fixtures and
saving an additional 770,000 gallons of potable water per year.

### Additional strategies included the use of LED lighting, occupancy sensors, and high-performance glazing.

The glazing strategy maximizes daylight. As a result, 90 percent of the regularly
occupied spaces have direct views to the outside.

In addition to using local and recycled materials, Hess Construction used low chemical-
emitting materials such as paints, adhesives, carpet, and composite wood inside 
the building to protect indoor air quality.

Stephen Halsey and Moseley Architects’ project manager reflected on the response
to the school. “I am pleased that the students have responded so positively to the
building’s features and that we were able to achieve the city’s vision. Huguenot
sets an example for what is possible for future school projects in the city.”

SOURCE Mosley Architects

[http://www.moseleyarchitects.com](https://www.moseleyarchitects.com/)