On Jan. 28 St. Mary’s County Public Schools won the Award of Excellence for the School and Universities Project of the Year for the design and construction of Evergreen Elementary School. The award, given by the U.S. Green Building Council, Maryland Chapter, was announced during the council’s fifth annual awards banquet held at Goucher College in Towson, MD. Over 60 projects state-wide were nominated.
“I am so proud that Evergreen Elementary School has received this impressive recognition,” said Dr. Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools. “We must strive to make our students stewards of our pristine environment. The name of this school says it all – Evergreen Elementary School – forever green.”
Evergreen Elementary School, which also received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certified recognition in the fall of 2009, has received notoriety across the state and the country for its innovative design. It is designed to use 20 percent less energy, 90 percent less water, and immerse students and staff into their local environment. The school’s notoriety is due mostly to its integration of these conservation measures, integrated with an instructional program that provides hands-on activities and promotes behavior changes in the use of natural resources.
“It was exciting to be a part of the design and construction of this school,” said Mrs. Kim Summers, principal of Evergreen Elementary School. “It has been exceptionally rewarding to see the interaction of the students and staff with the building and its interactive features.”
Mr. Mike Lahowin, principle architect for Tca Architects, said, “This is a unique school and was a unique project. It was one of the best displays of teamwork excellence between the design team, St. Mary’s County Public Schools, and Scheibel Construction, the contractor on this project.
