Green Buildings of San Mateo County

The Nueva School

The Nueva School Exterior

The Nueva School Hillside Learning Complex project in Hillsborough entailed the addition of three new buildings, a Library, Student Center and Classroom Building. These buildings benefit from the their location and climate by utilizing wind for natural ventilation and cooling and the sun for passive heating, solar energy and daylighting. The school also took this opportunity to educate students about green building by integrating "ideal classroom" design projects into the Second and Fifth Grade curricula. The buildings also have "X-ray" windows that allow the students to see the innovative, green building structures and systems within the walls. This green school has successfully integrated the message with the medium and will be enjoyed by future generations for years to come.

Green Building Details:

  • Building orientations are optimized to benefit from prevailing breezes and solar access
  • The living roof provides 10,000 sq. ft. of native vegetation to provide new habitat for native birds as well as the endangered Myrtle Silver Spot Butterfly
  • Landscaped areas are optimized to reduce heat island effect and support biodiversity
  • Over 80% of demolition and construction waste was recycled and diverted from landfills
  • Buildings are steel frames with exterior steel studs to minimize wood framing
  • Cabinets are made from bamboo or wheat board and counters are made from recycled paper/resin composite
  • Energy-Star rated single-ply roof at the Classroom Building
  • Fly ash used in concrete
  • The exterior finish is predominantly cement plaster - a durable, low maintenance material
  • Exterior wood siding, screens, decks and trellises were milled from Cypress trees removed from the site to make way for the project
  • The project uses 65% less energy (all sources) than a typical school building of its size in the nation
  • A 30 kW photovoltaic system mounted on the roof of the Classroom Building provides 21% of all project electrical requirements
  • Optimized daylighting, high-efficiency lighting systems with occupancy controls and Energy Star appliances result in reduced electrical load
  • Overhangs, wood screens and trees provide sun shading
  • Natural ventilation, thermal mass and ceiling fans eliminate air conditioning except the equipment intensive Media Lab
  • Heating provided by in-floor hydronic system with high-efficiency gas-fired boilers
  • High performance tankless water heaters
  • Waterless urinals, double-flush toilets and other water conserving fixtures result in a 50% reduction in water use
  • Water conserving landscaping and zoned drip irrigation reduces irrigation water use by over 50%
  • A storm water management plan utilizes the living roofs, a bioswale at the south side of the Library, and sub-grade retention/release piping to reduce project impacts
  • Exterior building insulation in formaldehyde-free fiberglass batt; Interior insulation in cotton batt made from recycled denim
  • All paints, adhesives and sealants are no-VOC and the carpets are also vinyl-free and "Cradle-to-cradle" certified
  • Composite wood products, doors and furniture are formaldehyde-free
  • Linoleum floors and exposed concrete floors used whenever possible to reduce indoor air contamination

Project Team:
Architect: Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects
Builder: Herrero Contractors, Inc.