A 5,700 square-foot middle school is the first modular school to be approved by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools, which is a national movement to improve student performance by building the best possible schools.
Bolsa Knolls Middle School, located in Salinas, Calif., is only the second school in California to receive the CHPS certification.
According to manufacturer Gen7, the modular school was built in about 60 days. Using high-recycled content and recyclable materials, post-occupancy productivity has increased while absenteeism has decreased.
In total, the six classrooms are expected to be 30 percent more efficient than California energy code requirements. The school uses daylight harvesting, acoustic design, and various climate controls to improve health, comfort, and overall environmental sustainability.
Gov1 found another builder, Project Frog, which manufactures energy efficient modular schools. One of their projects in Hartford, CT, is an energy-neutral building built with recycled materials at the Watkinson School.
Original coverage of the Salinas school can be found here.
Details on each of the manufacturers mentioned above are at:
Also available is information on The Collaborative for High Performance Schools.