The building's orientation, geometry and facade design maximize thermal energy performance and day-lighting effectiveness. Integral to the building’s innovative sustainable design were the glazing systems which provide higher thermal performance, almost seamlessly integrated with the building’s automated motorized window control system and adapted to greenhouse type rack and pinion motorized controls for large scale operable solar chimney vents.

Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope® (OBE) provided many products contributing to the project and its LEED gold target, including 6500 Series stick curtain wall utilized around the building, 2020 Series SSG vents which were incorporated into the chimney and the Reliance® Cassette curtain wall on the angular facade.

In addition to driving effectiveness of the building’s innovative hybrid passive/active ventilation system, the solar chimney reinforces a landmark presence of the school on the main entry road to the campus. With interior social activities of the atrium visible through the exterior glazed wall and the chimney illuminated as a beacon at night, these two strategic elements highlight the building’s duality of purpose: breaking down physical and social barriers to creative thinking and putting into action the school’s commitment to sustainable design.