WPI is leading the green building revolution in the Pacific Northwest. The St. Thomas School in Medina, Washington is a perfect example. From the beginning of this project, the community required their school to meet the stringent standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System. At the same time, they wanted to create a space for their children to learn and flourish. Experienced WPI tradesmen were able to achieve these goals through the use of environmentally friendly and acoustically intelligent products coupled with environmentally attentive construction practices.
One room in particular, named “The Commons”, provided some unique and challenging requirements. The space was to be utilized for multiple purposes from small study group situations where it was important for sounds to be absorbed, to theater performances where the acoustics of the room needed to reflect and enhance the voices of fledgling performers. The Western Partitions installation crew was challenged to construct a custom-built curtain track and coordinate installation of projection screens, stage curtains, and lighting bays within the system.
Efforts to construct and build this project in an environmentally responsible way paid off. St. Thomas School has been LEED® Gold certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. This makes St. Thomas School the first school to receive accreditation under the LEED® for Schools program in Washington, and the second to receive this accreditation in the country. WPI is proud to have played an important role in the construction of this beautiful and environmentally friendly school.
Scopes: Light Gauge Framing, GWB, and ACT.