Raymond Elementary School
Washington, D.C
BEST PROJECT, RENOVATION/RESTORATION
Sent by: MCN Build
OWNER: DC Department of General Services, DC Public Schools
Lead Designer: Architecture Studies
General contractor: MCN Build
Civil Engineer: Bowman
Structural Engineer: Ellert Bryan
MEP Engineer: Global engineering solutions
Sustainability: Baumann Consulting
Landscape architect: Bradley site design
With the completion of Raymond Elementary School in July 2023, the design and construction team at MCN Build and Studios Architecture demonstrated that high sustainability goals and strict historic preservation requirements can coexist.
The two-and-a-half-year project delivered a redesigned school that accommodates 590 students. It also has a new wing that houses a gym, library and classrooms. The team renovated the nearly 100-year-old structure, along with a 1960s addition, making sure to meticulously preserve the building’s historic integrity. In addition, many building elements had to be preserved, such as corridor walls, plaster ceilings and the original terrazzo floor.
Rising to the challenge, the team aimed for LEED Gold and net-zero energy certifications. “You can always build a new building and turn it into zero; anyone can do that,” says Amit Patani, vice president of MCN. “But to modernize a historic building and try to make it still zero, that’s a unique challenge.”
Photo by Garrett Rowland, courtesy of Studios Architecture
The design called for the installation of 110 geothermal wells, motorized solar shutters, photovoltaic panels and other energy efficiency systems that were integrated to meet sustainability goals. The project required updating the MEP systems, modernizing the infrastructure and addressing the challenge of limited space for renewable energy installations. The team also developed a sustainability dashboard interface, now a standard for all DC net-zero projects, to communicate building performance based on various energy and electricity meters.
Early in the project, the team faced adversity. A challenge to the award of the contract caused a five-month delay in the start of construction that threatened to derail the project’s schedule. However, the construction team rose to the challenge and committed to a rigorous six-day work week for the entire project.
The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains further complicated matters, causing significant material delays, particularly for structural steel. In response, the MCN team strategically released long-term items nearly a year before installation and accelerated others.
Photo by Garrett Rowland, courtesy of Studios Architecture
While the project encountered its share of obstacles, teamwork ensured the successful delivery of a historic net zero facility, all within budget.
One of the biggest challenges facing the Raymond project was its proximity to residential homes and sharing parking with the community recreation center. The project safety team worked to minimize the project’s impact on the community and ensure the safety and well-being of the community.
During construction, there were multiple thefts and incidents of vandalism at the project and the nearby recreation center. Additional security cameras were added to the site, across from the parking lot where the summer school activities were held. The strategy helped the recreation center keep children safe while monitoring site security. On more than one occasion, the project team dedicated painters from their staff to help paint over graffiti and vandalism on the facade and walls around the recreation center to maintain a clean and aesthetic environment.
