At its regular Board meeting this past Tuesday, the School Board of Miami-Dade County awarded a $26.6 million project to H.A. Contracting Corp. for the comprehensive upgrade and renovation of Dr. Frederica S. Wilson/Skyway Elementary School, which will become the district’s first Net Zero Energy school.
Built in 1972, Frederica S. Wilson Skyway Elementary is comprised of five permanent buildings and covered walkways spanning 76,737 square feet on approximately eight acres. The current facility provides student stations for 588 students and serves grades Pre-K through eighth grade.
The scope of this project includes the demolition and replacement of Building 1. The new 36,000 square foot, high performance building will house 400 student stations and feature modern art and music labs, administration offices and a media center. Extensive renovations to Building 4 will be performed, including high performance HVAC systems, new LED lighting, electric cooking equipment, as well as new exterior paint.
Many sustainable design strategies were incorporated to achieve a Net Zero Energy and Green/Sustainable facility, which includes optimal building orientation, high-performance building envelope and HVAC systems, Low-E insulated glazing, water conserving fixtures, and other energy efficient features.
These measures at the school are projected to achieve a campus-wide Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 29.7, with the new classrooms reaching an impressive EUI of approximately 20, which are significantly better than the National K-8 average of approximately 56. EUI indicates how much energy a building consumes per square foot per year.
Beyond the energy-focused upgrades, the project will also include a new parking lot, new tennis courts, putting green, and an upgraded basketball court.
To ensure the long-term integrity of the Net Zero Energy status, the project includes post construction services such as extended manufacturer’s warranties and maintenance services, an online Dashboard/Programming Hosting for Net Zero, and comprehensive measurement and verification reporting system.
The expected completion date of the project is September 2026.
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