Heartwood Annex Updates: CORE Ready Submission
Many thanks to WSP eighth grader, Miles Sanders, who took a lead role in designing the Heartwood Annex interpretive signage.
The 8th Grade Classroom project developed from a need to meet our school’s expanding student enrollment, while remaining true to Waldorf principles. Designed to be Net Zero ready, the project is currently targeting Core Green Building Certification with the International Living Future Institute. This addition to our campus provides an ideal environment where our older students thrive.
Arial or plan view
Natural, Sustainable Materials
Regionally sourced hemlock at exterior north wall
Sustainably harvested plywood at ceiling and exterior soffits
Interior casework on window seat made with wood from large pin oak felled on-site after a storm
Cement board rain screen assembly
Interior doors and hardware procured through local door salvaging company
Slate chalkboard salvaged from school’s main building
Salvaged mirrors procured through local materials reuse company
Energy efficient envelope includes highly insulated walls and roof
High performance exterior glazing
High efficiency fan coil unit (FCU) for heating
Energy recovery ventilator (ERV) to recycle captured heat
Point-of-use water heaters
Daylight harvesting through fully-glazed west facade
Natural ventilation through operable windows and ceiling fans
Rain chain celebration of water, fabricated by local metal craftsman
Rain barrel stores harvested rainwater for raised bed and garden irrigation
Underground dry well for stormwater management created on site of demolished gray house
Low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce on-site water usage by 80% below baseline
Broad paved pathways within landscape promote accessibility
Open, single-level building design promotes accessibility
The Eighth Grade Classroom project developed from a need to meet the school’s expanding student enrollment. The Classroom is a 1,000 SF stand-alone structure, designed to house the 25-person eighth grade class, and includes the main teaching space as well as support space such as a mudroom, cubbies, restrooms, and storage.
Based on the Waldorf principles, the educational development of eighth grade students is focused on strengthening independence and thinking beyond themselves as they explore the outside world. Therefore, the building is intentionally situated away from the main schoolhouse. The massing of the classroom is simple yet thoughtful, with the service bar lining the south edge and the teaching space opening to the north. A gently arced wall delineates the perimeter of the interior teaching space, yet physiologically connects the students to the outdoors. Playing off the shape of the exterior pathway, this wall forms a gesture of embrace around the beloved outdoor green space, which doubles as an amphitheater during large school events.
In keeping with the school’s emphasis on authenticity and health, the materials palette is muted and natural. The service bar is cladded in a horizontal cement board siding, while the arced north wall is sheathed in a vertical lapped black locust wood siding. The interior is warm and inviting with wood casework built from a large pin oak felled on site.
To showcase (and teach) sustainable building practices and promote healthy learning environments, the Classroom is pursuing both Core Green Building Certification with the International Living Future Institute and WELL Building Standard.
In 2014, Waldorf School of Pittsburgh asked Duquesne University's PlaceLab to facilitate a study of the school grounds in order to develop a plan for enhancing the green spaces surrounding our historic school building. Many community members participated in this effort which allowed the school to re-envision our grounds. Out of this foundational study emerged many new developments which can be seen on campus today. Significant changes included expanding and bringing more natural features into the playground areas to better meet our students' developmental needs.
Here is the Community Report our families received written by current parent, Dr. Denise McMorrow, who was a member of PlaceLab and provided critical support for the process. Also below is a paper written by Dr. Eva Simms, alumni parent, who led the PlaceLab and wrote a more recent article about restorative play spaces.