Niles McKinley High SchoolNiles, Ohio

U.S. Green Building Council LEED Silver

Project Description

The new 124,000 SF McKinley High School for the Niles City School District has a creative plan solution developed in response to limiting parameters of the site, environmental concerns and green design practices.

After investigating several land purchases available to the District, the Board of Education decided to use land available on the existing high school site.  The existing football stadium (an important community facility), Mosquito Creek and its associated flood plain area, the surrounding residential neighborhood and the existing high school (which needed to remain operational during construction) created a small potential building footprint.

The solution placed P.E./Athletic Facilities adjacent to the existing football stadium.  The building pad elevation was raised above the flood plain elevation.  Major common spaces run north/south, parallel to the stadium and use the student dining commons as a high bay link between the major north/south corridors that flank the common spaces and auditorium.  Three two story academic blocks radiate off the slightly curved “Main Street” and are oriented for daylighting while creating external learning and gathering areas, including a small amphitheater.

The LEED Silver Certified design reduced operational costs by incorporating a high performance building envelope controlled daylighting and a geothermal (ground source heat pump) HVAC system.