The renovation and additions to Nottingham Elementary School located in Arlington, VA was designed by Samaha Associates, PC of Fairfax, VA with its past history and location within an established older neighborhood, represents the small neighborhood schools of our past. Although the facility is designed for 430 students, its sense of scale belies its size of approximately 71,000 square feet. The spaces are designed to the scale of the child, including casework, fixtures and windows. Centrally located within the building are collaboration spaces for parents, teachers and staff to meet and discuss the well-being and education of the children. The facility has also been designed as a center for the community. It contains outdoor as well as indoor activity spaces.
Originally constructed in 1951, the central administration offices were buried in the middle of the school, hampering supervision of the school entrance and approaches. The new administration suite, lobby, and main entrance provides visual supervision over the entire front of the site including the main entrance, parking, student drop-off, and bus loading area. All access points to the school are controlled by electronic locks and card readers to enhance security.
Environmentally, the building is designed to exceed ASHRAE 91 standards for energy efficiency, ventilation, and natural day light. VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) off-gassing is minimized by using water based solvents and materials with re-cycled content. The prominent location of the bio-retention pond stresses the importance of protecting our waterways. Although the building is not LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), many “green” technologies were included in the design making it a sustainable facility. Besides the bio-retention pond and low V.O.C adhesives and finishes, the school uses low-flow plumbing fixtures, waterless urinals, high performance low-E glazing, high reflectance (cool) roofing materials and fresh air heat recovery wheels. The building has been fully commissioned so that systems are operating as designed in the most energy efficient manner possible.
Nottingham’s modern image respects the civic importance of a structure located within a well established residential community, while reflecting a modern technological aesthetic in keeping with a school for the twenty-first century. The facility is fully (ADA) accessible. The importance of its mission is stated implicitly through the work on the walls, and the activity of its occupants. The light airiness of the interior, and the visual connection to the outdoors contributes to the sense that the building is connected to the community.
Proud of Our Record. Proud of Your Trust. Client satisfaction is a primary objective of Henley Construction Company, Inc. We are proud of the fact that since 1964 every one of our quality construction projects has been delivered to satisfied customers on-time and within budget. We are grateful for our clients' trust, and are dedicated to continuing this record.
