In late September, we at Alliant Energy recognized the Prairie Creek Intermediate School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as a recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Energy-Efficient Design Awards for outstanding efforts to reduce energy use.
Judges select recipients from projects whose designers participated in the Commercial New Construction program (CNC) we and our partner MidAmerican Energy Company offer. The program provides energy design assistance and energy efficiency incentives to commercial customers for new construction, additions and renovation projects in areas our two utility companies serve.
OPN Architects Inc. and Design Engineers P.C. designed the school. It achieves 46% annual energy savings compared to the CNC program baseline. The new building embraces the natural curves of the site and nestles itself into the swale. As the swale dips down, the building emerges from the hill and opens both levels to natural daylight and views. To reduce reliance on artificial light, common public spaces are daylit. Additionally, collaboration areas borrow light and views from classrooms using internal windows, which allow for supervision between the spaces and exterior light penetration deep into the building.
In conjunction with a sensitivity to thermal breaks, high performance curtainwall systems and better-than-code insulation levels, the insulated precast and block construction improves envelope thermal performance, which reduces the HVAC load, reduces maintenance and increases longevity. The building includes a horizontal geothermal well system with a water-to-water plant to provide heating and cooling water to energy recovery units and air handling units. The energy recovery units are divided into ventilation zones by operating schedule to allow units to shut off when an area is not in use. A direct digital temperature control building automation system optimizes energy use and thermal comfort.
We presented the award at the 2024 American Institute of Architects Iowa Annual Convention.
We’re proud to partner with Willdan and MidAmerican Energy for the Commercial New Construction program. Our partners and we are grateful to the American Institute of Architects for continuing to recognize and celebrate energy efficiency.
