The Gallatin County Board of Education used economy of scale to create two new facilities within one building on the district’s main campus. The new Gallatin County Upper Elementary & Middle School accommodates fourth through eighth grades, and was planned for 300 upper elementary and 400 middle school students.
The two schools feature separate administrative and classroom wings, but share common spaces such as the gymnasium, media center, cafeteria, as well as the band and art classrooms.
The design team developed a floor plan that orients the building from east to west, maximizing on natural lighting throughout the facility. The project also includes geothermal wells, high-reflectivity roofs and highly efficient mechanical units to create an energy efficient facility.
After one year of operation, the new Gallatin County Upper Elementary and Middle School proved so energy efficient that it earned an ENERGY STAR from the US Environmental Protection Agency and was identified as the most energy efficient middle school in the state.
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