National Cathedral School

This 83,000 sf athletic complex for the National Cathedral School for Girls preserves the integrity of a site shared with the Washington National Cathedral and planned by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.

Planning guidelines stipulated that no more than 14% of the grounds be developed, with the remainder left to grass, trees, and fields. In addition, community leaders wanted assurances that proposed development would not adversely affect the pristine image of the Cathedral and surrounding neighborhood. To meet these requirements and minimize building mass, 90% of the athletic complex’s volume is concealed beneath rooftop soccer fields and landscaped berms. The modest footprint of the entry pavilion belies the variety of activities taking place on two underground levels 45 feet below.

A 60-foot-tall atrium, centered on one of the tallest climbing walls in the East, extends downward from the entry, admitting natural light into adjacent areas. An underground 50-car parking garage preserves green space and avoids increasing water runoff. The soccer field acts as a user-friendly, extensive green roofing system, providing insulation and warm-weather evaporative cooling and increasing absorption of rainwater, reducing sewer costs.

• Project developed in urban area with existing infrastructure, protecting greenfields and natural habitats
• Facility is accessible via commuter bus lines
• Bicycle storage and on-site shower facilities encourage alternative transportation
• Underground parking reduces water runoff and site disturbance
• Stacking of the building program minimizes building footprint, reducing site disturbance
• Highly reflective paving materials and vegetated green roofing reduce heat-island effect
• Low-cutoff light fixtures avoid contributing to night-sky light pollution

• 40% of building materials are regionally manufactured, exceeding LEED standards
• Green building user-education program educates public about sustainable design
• Green operations and maintenance plan preserves indoor environmental quality
• Potable water usage reduced by 44%, exceeding LEED standards

• Carbon dioxide monitoring system provides feedback on space ventilation performance
• No-smoking policy and low-VOC paints, carpets, adhesives, and sealants preserve indoor air quality
• Automated temperature/humidity monitoring system optimizes building conditions

• Dedicated storage and collection area provided for recyclable materials
• Building materials contain significant recycled content
• 20% of building materials are manufactured regionally

• Building systems commissioning verifies implementation and performance
• Insulated, low-E coated glass reduces energy consumption
• Refrigeration and fire-suppression equipment is free of HCFCs and halons

• Lavatory sensors and low-flow fixtures reduce potable water usage
• 20% increase in efficiency of potable water usage reduces impact on municipal water supply

Three subterranean levels that house:

• Competition court with bleacher seating
• Three-court multipurpose gymnasium
• Raised running track
• Fitness center and training/wellness center
• Administrative offices and conference room
• Multipurpose dance studio
• Locker rooms
• Below-grade 50-car parking garage