Horry County Schools
Multiple Projects
Myrtle Beach, NC

Description

In winter of 2015, Horry County Schools of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina decided to undertake a $240 million, simultaneous construction of five new Net Positive schools. Three identical middle schools at 155,800 GSF, one slightly smaller middle school at 145,800 GSF and one elementary school at 127,000 GSF, for a total of 740,200 GSF.

KLG Jones was hired by the school district as the third party MEP commissioning agent to aid with achievement of the Net Positive construction and operational performance. Each two-story school incorporated innovative design features without hindering the learning environment. Superior spray foam insulation on the external envelope, over 2,000 photovoltaic panels (540kW AC) per school, concrete hollow-core floors and roof for thermal energy storage, sun shades and classrooms positioned on the exterior at expansive windows for optimum daylighting. Central water sourced heat pump design offers highest efficiency, lowest maintenance cost and longest life cycle according to ASHRAE.

The center of the building is open floor to ceiling to further allow natural light into the core and allow for more collaborative spaces. The design also incorporated the use of sustainable materials and followed the principles of sustainable design to achieve the Net Positive target.

Systems commissioned have included HVAC systems of all types, daylighting and dimming systems, power distribution, energy recovery, photovoltaic and central energy plants.