Washington, DC
Houston Elementary School
Scope/Solutions
The District of Columbia Public Schools needed to modernize and expand Charles H. Houston Elementary School. The project included renovating existing spaces and constructing a new addition. By moving corridors to exterior walls, the design team was able to bring natural light into circulation areas. SGH consulted on the enclosure, including new and existing systems.
SGH collaborated with the design team to evaluate existing enclosure systems and design new ones. Highlights of our work include:
- Reviewing the existing roofing assembly, focusing on developing an insulation and drainage strategy that would be compatible with the existing roof structure
- Analyzing the hygrothermal performance of the existing walls to evaluate the proposed air barrier and insulation installation and help mitigate the potential for condensation and moisture accumulation
- Surveying the existing windows to identify deficiencies to be addressed during the renovation work and establish appropriate performance criteria
- Evaluating proposed building enclosure products and systems, including new roofing, glazing, and cladding systems
- Providing recommendations for improving constructability, durability, and performance of the new and existing assemblies
- Developing details to integrate the various enclosure systems, including transitions from new construction to the original building
- Performing construction phase services, including reviewing contractor submittals, evaluating material substitutions, observing ongoing construction and performance testing, and helping address unforeseen field conditions
Photo by Chris Ambridge
Photo by Chris Ambridge
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Project Summary
2020
Completion Date
84K
Project Size
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Building Enclosures
Markets
Education
Client(s)
Cox Graae + Spack Architects
Specialized Capabilities
Condition Assessments | Roofing & Waterproofing
Key team members
Additional Projects
Mid-Atlantic
The Madeira School
SGH provided collaborative building enclosure and structural consulting services on two projects at the Madeira School.
Mid-Atlantic
Towson University, Glen Towers
Originally constructed in 1983, the university elected to update and improve the complex. SGH consulted on the design of the building enclosure and provided building enclosure commissioning services from the early stages of design through construction.