Gen7: Inspiring Higher Performance
in Schools and Students
Project Highlights
The new Atwater Valley School functions at a higher level and so will the students, in bright, comfortable facilities with abundant natural light and superior acoustics that can improve educational performance by as much as 20%, while significantly reducing costs and boosting energy savings up to 60%.
- 1st Gen7 school campus
- 60% reduction in build-time, compared to conventional construction
- 35 dB(A) whisper-quiet learning environment (30% quieter than average classroom)
Project Background
Atwater Valley is Merced County's alternative education facility, serving the diverse needs of at-risk students. Gen7's versatile design adapts readily to different uses-critical, since MCOE was looking to build a turnkey sustainable campus instead of just adding a few classrooms. The new campus includes a four-wing classroom building, administrative offices, art and science labs, full gymnasium and shop area-each customized for the ten-acre site plan.
Challenge:
Years of leasing inadequate space at a nearby commerce center prompted MCOE to set an aggressive timeline, challenging designers to fulfill a multitude of needs in multi-functional quarters that would be ready for students by the start of the next school year.
Goal:
Because Valley is a non-traditional school, MCOE was looking for a non-traditional solution– a modern green campus that would provide a wealth of practical options in a community setting that would appeal to secondary-age students and could be completed, cost-effectively, in less than a year.
Solution:
Gen7 designed an entire campus with integrated educational, recreational and vocational facilities to fit the unique needs of 200 high school students, plus 30 sixth through eighth graders, housed in separate facilities. The fresh, modern design and advanced green technology allowed Atwater to offer a range of programs and resources in an inviting, energy-efficient environment conducive to learning–all in an unprecedented turnaround time of just six months.
A well-insulated building envelope, cool roof, daylighting harvesting and energy-efficient mechanical system use the latest technology to exceed CA Energy Code by an average of 33%.
"We wanted a beautiful campus but also a functional campus and Gen7 fulfilled our vision with an adaptability and durability we couldn't find anywhere else." - Terry Ruscoe, Director of Support Services, Merced County Office of Education