The reimagined River Grove Elementary School is a thoughtful, environmentally progressive replacement of the original elementary school on the site, built in 1967. It is a fully electric, certified path-to-net-zero building. A collaboration between the school district, design team, and local utility provider enabled further innovation by developing a microgrid design, one of the first American schools to feature this innovation and playing an active role in the state’s effort to reach zero-carbon energy production by 2040.
The design of the new River Grove Elementary School was the result of a collaborative effort involving students and teachers, with the aim of improving student well-being and facilitating teaching and learning. Embracing the stunning natural surroundings, the building plan supports an educational experience that extends beyond the confines of the classroom, fostering a greater connection to the environment. By addressing the challenges of a fragmented school community caused by the previous facility layout and the impact of a global pandemic, the new design aims to create a cohesive and connected environment.
The design meets the new elementary school standards established by the Lake Oswego School District’s 2020 Elementary Educational Specifications and provides classrooms, extended learning areas, an innovation lab, music room, stage, library, administration offices, gymnasium, outdoor covered play area, outdoor learning spaces, and play fields.
In a region formerly known for passive design, architects in the Pacific Northwest are discovering a new normal prompted by climate change. In the spring of 2020, Arcadis started designing this new elementary school located just outside of Portland, Oregon. In the months that followed, the region was plagued with smoke-filled air brought on by forest fires, heat domes of up to 116 degrees Fahrenheit, and ice storms that left residents without power for weeks at a time. In response, our client and their school community called for change. They wanted their new school to embrace resilienc, carbon neutrality, and function as an effective learning environment in an increasingly hot and smoke-filled region.
The district’s commitment to sustainability and resilience is demonstrated by its participation in the Energy Trust of Oregon’s Path to Net Zero program, the installation of an on-site microgrid enabling the fully electric building to function independently of the utility grid, and the implementation of enhanced seismic resilience measures.
The structure is designed to a higher seismic importance factor as a Category IV building that can serve as a shelter in the event of a natural disaster and provide emergency services to the neighboring community, with backup power provided by a generator as well as a large PV array and battery system—setting a benchmark for resilient schools in the region.
When you look at the life cycle of the building, and the fact we’re going to have a building after a major event and systems that still work and be able to support our students and community—not to mention the significant saving on our utility bills from using cleaner energy—that adds up tenfold over the years.
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