Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy | Energy Lab
New STEM Facility | Waimea, Hawai'i
Designed to meet Hawai'i Preparatory Academy’s goal to create a high school science building focused on the study of alternative energy, the 6,100-sf Energy Lab inspires students to experiment with renewable energy technologies.
The award-winning building employs photovoltaics and wind turbines to meet its energy needs (using no more energy than it generates over the course of a year), harvests rainwater to meet its potable water needs, uses natural ventilation, and has views outdoors from 100% of its occupied spaces. To promote environmental literacy, students can monitor the building’s energy use in real time.
The design supports project-based learning, a key component in 21st century learning pedagogies, and encourages scientific study both indoors and out. Project ideas are conceived by teams in a project room, simulated at computer workstations, fabricated in the research lab or in workshops, and tested on the building grounds.
In addition to being certified LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council, the Energy Lab is the first K–12 facility in the world to meet the Living Building Challenge, an even more rigorous green assessment threshold.
Project Information
Time Span 2008–2010
Type New STEM Facility
Client Hawai'i Preparatory Academy
Size 6,100 square feet
Cost $4 million
Design Team David Croteau, Principle-in-Charge; Kelley Banks, Project Architect
Local Architect GVA Arquitectos
Consultants Civil Engineering: Belt Collins Hawaii Ltd.; Structural Engineering: Walter Vorfeld & Associates; Mechanical Engineering: Hakalau Engineering LLC; Electrical Engineering: Wallace T. Oki, PE Inc.; Surveyor: Pattison Land Surveying Inc.; Sustainability Consultants: Buro Happold Consulting Engineers
General Contractor Quality Builders
Photographer Matthew Millman
Certifications Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Platinum; Living Building Challenge (LBC) Certified Living
Awards BSA Excellence in Design Honor Award (2010)
Publications Alan Ford, Kate Mraw, Betsy del Monte, Creating the Regenerative School (2024)
Hawai'i Preparatory Academy | Energy Lab
New STEM Facility
Designed to meet Hawai'i Preparatory Academy’s goal to create a high school science building focused on the study of alternative energy, the 6,100-sf Energy Lab inspires students to experiment with renewable energy technologies.
| Time Span | 2008–2010 |
| Type | New STEM Facility |
| Client | Hawai'i Preparatory Academy |
| Size | 6,100 square feet |
| Cost | $4 million |
| Design Team | David Croteau, Principle-in-Charge; Kelley Banks, Project Architect |
| Consultants | Civil Engineering: Belt Collins Hawaii Ltd.; Structural Engineering: Walter Vorfeld & Associates; Mechanical Engineering: Hakalau Engineering LLC; Electrical Engineering: Wallace T. Oki, PE Inc.; Surveyor: Pattison Land Surveying Inc.; Sustainability Consultants: Buro Happold Consulting Engineers |
| General Contractor | Quality Builders |
| Photographer | Matthew Millman |
| Certifications | Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Platinum; Living Building Challenge (LBC) Certified Living |
| Awards |
AASA/AIA/CEFPI Walter Taylor Award (2011)
Forest Stewardship Council Annual Design & Build Awards 7th Place (2011)
ACEC Hawaii Grand Conceptor Engineering Excellence Award (2011)
ACEC New York Platinum Award (2010)
Wood Design & Building Awards Merit Winner (2010)
IDID Merit Award Excellence in Sustainable Design & Development (2010)
AIA Honolulu Award of Excellence & Jack C. Lipman AIA Members’ Choice Award (2010)
AIA New England Design Awards (2010)
Learning by Design Grand Prize (2010)
American School & University Architectural Portfolio Special Citation (2010)
BSA Excellence in Design Honor Award (2010)
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