CMTA’s unique insights helped deliver a school that is an awesome prototype for the future.
Consulting Engineering
Barkley Elementary School
DoDEA's Most Energy Efficient School
Zero Energy
Scott Middle School
CMTA's groundbreaking project at Fort Knox Army Installation has set a new bar for sustainable school design by delivering the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)'s first zero-energy school. Built on the grounds of the former McDonald Elementary School, the new Scott Middle School stands as a testament to careful planning and sustainable transformation. The demolition of the old elementary building made way for this innovative project, utilizing the existing geothermal wellfield infrastructure.
Using our data-driven design approach, CMTA was able to right-size the HVAC equipment for the new facility. As a result, the 113,500 SF Scott Middle School will only use a portion of the existing wellfield's full capacity, despite having approximately 45% more square footage than the old facility. To achieve drastic energy reduction, the design team implemented a tight building envelope, building orientation, daylighting, LED lighting, and efficient HVAC systems. A 680-kW photovoltaic array will offset the school’s annual energy demand, resulting in a net zero building.
These energy-efficient design strategies allow Scott Middle School to avoid 588 metric tons of CO2e annually. By actively reducing its carbon footprint, the school embodies an ongoing commitment to sustainability and showcases how innovative engineering solutions can be implemented in educational facilities to promote environmental stewardship.
