The Carlisle Area School District retained EI Associates to renovate and improve their two identical middle schools in an energy efficient manner. The Lamberton Middle school has achieved LEED Gold Certification and the Wilson Middle School has achieved LEED Platinum Certification.  Along with a multitude of sustainable and energy efficiency upgrades, both 97,000 square foot buildings received classroom and administration additions, as well as site reconfiguration and upgrades.

Lamberton and Wilson Middle Schools were built in 1979 as identical one-story buildings housing grades 6, 7, and 8.  The original building design followed educational practices of the day and provided three classroom pod areas, each having an open plan with no corridors. This design internalized most of the classrooms, separated only by movable partitions, with very few rooms having windows providing daylight or views outside.

As part of the renovation project the classroom areas were completely reconfigured, giving each grade its own separate corridor organized around a central commons between two “Teaming” areas per grade. Each Team area is defined by a new daylight monitor skylight, bringing natural light into the classrooms and corridor spaces.  These monitors ensure that each classroom has natural light and reduces the need for artificial lighting.  The renovated Middle Schools also have ‘smart’ motion sensing lighting fixtures and outlets throughout which dim and turn off when students and staff are not present.

The renovated Middle Schools use approximately 56% less energy per square foot per year than the existing, smaller buildings consumed.

Both schools were featured in the an American School & University Educational Interiors Showcase Issue, the premier competition honoring education interiors excellence. The projects have also received Green School of the Year for K-12 category from the U.S. Green Building Council Central Pennsylvania Chapter.