Bard High School Early College
Washington, D.C
BEST PROJECT, K-12 EDUCATION
KEY PLAYERS
Sent by: MCN Build
Owner: DC Department of General Services, DC Department of Parks and Recreation, KIPP DC
Main design: Perkins Eastman DC
General contractor: MCN Build
Civil Engineer: Bowman
Structural Engineer: SK&A Structural Engineers
MEP Engineer: CMTA
With the goal of increasing access to higher education for low-income and underrepresented communities, Bard High School Early College offers graduates a free high school diploma and associate of arts degree from Bard College . To create this new learning environment, a design and construction team, led by MCN Build with designer Perkins Eastman, transformed the former four-story Malcolm X Elementary School into a modern facility that could support a higher education program. The school includes well-lit classrooms, collaborative areas, a black box theater, gymnasium, auditorium, cafeteria, science labs, studio, performing arts spaces and designed outdoor learning areas to foster a conducive learning environment.
The new school “gives D.C. public school students a head start on college life,” says Thomas Henderson, project manager for the D.C. Department of General Services. “The design and construction team did a good job following the education [specifications] of DC Public Schools to create a cohesive environment and a more collegial atmosphere.”
In addition, the team had to design the school to achieve LEED Platinum level and net zero energy status. The finished building has a roof ready for photovoltaic panels, geothermal wells and many other sustainable elements. Site work included a hard plaza, sidewalks, parking with electric vehicle chargers, a basketball court, bioretention structures and an artificial turf playing field surrounded by a running track.
The team was tasked with using as much of the existing structure as possible. During the initial analysis, Perkins Eastman and MCN determined that the existing building skin could not perform well enough to meet the high sustainability goals. Kristina Vidal, senior associate at Perkins Eastman DC, says this decision opened up numerous opportunities to improve the look, feel and performance of the building.
“The existing building was a very bunker-like civic structure with small windows,” he says. “Once you take the skin off, you can put in as many windows as you want. So it was a great opportunity for us to change the look, change the opening and address the sustainability needs.”
Adding to the feeling of openness, a large skylight was added in the center of the building with cut-out floor plates to allow daylight to flow throughout the interior.
After tearing down the existing facade, the team discovered that the structure was out of lead. For nearly a month, MCN coordinated meetings between the design team, related subcontractors and a building envelope consultant to resolve the issue and keep the project on schedule.
The school includes a new black box theater that opens to both the entrance and dining room.
Photo by Joseph Romero, courtesy of MCN Build
Supply chain pains
With construction starting in January 2021, the team had to overcome supply constraints during the COVID pandemic. Natasha Pollione, MCN’s project manager, says the team was able to successfully maintain most of the materials, especially long-lasting items. However, the team had to adjust quickly after their facade panel vendor went out of business.
“The facade played an important role in being able to get net zero,” he says. “When the manufacturer went out of business, it was a little hectic, but luckily we were able to get another panel that had all the same specs and would still get us to that goal of zero.”
Safety was also a critical consideration for both site workers and the surrounding community. One of MCN’s safety strategies was leveraged to use a supplier as a resource to provide fall protection training to subcontractors. Due to contractual limitations, MCN was not allowed to directly train subcontractors, so the team used a supplier, Atlantic Hardware, as an intermediary to provide training. Atlantic Hardware conducted an on-site fall arrest demonstration, using a mannequin to illustrate the consequences of a fall and the proper use of safety equipment such as harnesses, self-retracting lifelines and absorbent lanyards the shocks
“[Bard High School Early College] gives DC public school students a head start on college life.”
— Thomas Henderson, Project Manager, DC Department of General Services
Crews faced another safety challenge during exterior facade work on the east elevation along busy Alabama Avenue SE. Existing power lines running parallel to the street were less than 10 feet from the building in some places, providing little room to safely conduct work from the scaffolding. MCN notes that according to OSHA guidelines, all work performed near overhead power lines must be done at least 10 feet away to avoid arcing and potential electrical shock hazards. To fix the problem, MCN contacted the power company to explore the possibility of deactivating the power lines and diverting the power across the street. This request was denied.
As an alternative to maintaining compliance with OSHA regulations, a project team member came up with a plan to build a physical barrier of wood posts and plywood between the scaffolding work area. Although this method was unconventional, it allowed the work to be done safely and within guidelines.
MCN crews completed 159,642 work hours with no OSHA recordable incidents or lost time accidents.
The team also prioritized community participation from the beginning of the project. The team held quarterly meetings with the neighborhood, informing themselves about the project and the upcoming schedule, allowing the surrounding residents to be included and knowledgeable about the project. MCN also organized community events such as a turkey drive and Thanksgiving meal drive to people in the community.
The centerpiece of the “Socratic Promenade” creates the heart of the school with skylights, active corridors and flexible and informal common spaces for meeting, socializing and collaborating.
Photo by Joseph Romero, courtesy of MCN Build
Sharing with the neighborhood
As a former primary school, the building had also been used by the community for years. Vidal says the team was able to create spaces that could be shared with the community, particularly in a multipurpose wing that was separate from the four-story school building. Through community meetings, the team also devised ways to make outdoor spaces that could be shared by the neighborhood.
“We received information about the recreational spaces outside the building,” he recalls. “There had been an open grass field, an outdoor basketball court and some play space. So when developing the site design, we felt it was important to include similar outdoor facilities that could not only serve the high school, but be accessible to the surrounding neighborhood for use.”
The project was completed on time and on budget in July 2023. DC Public Schools now has a facility that offers a new early college program along with community services while achieving high levels of sustainability that can help guide the future of Washington. DC, schools for years to come.
