K-12 Education: Sandy Grove Middle School Shines With Solar

Photo By Chad Sattler

Project officials estimate the schoolwhich was delivered via a public-private partnershipwill generate more electricity annually than it will consume.

This middle school in Lumber Bridge, N.C., built via a public-private partnership and designed to achieve LEED Platinum status, incorporates more than 2,300 solar panels that, collectively, generate an estimated 589.5 kilowatts of electricity annually, or about 30% more than the school will require, project officials estimate.

As a result, project developer FirstFloor K-12 Solutions estimates that, over the next 40 years, the county will save about $16 million on its energy bills, exceeding the facility's $15.1-million construction cost. The science-technology-engineering-math school was built in just 12 months and under budget.

Sandy Grove Middle School Project Team

Owner: FirstFloor K-12 Solutions LLC, Raleigh

Architect: SFL+a Architects, Raleigh

General Contractor: Metcon Inc., Pembroke

Civil Engineer: Crawford Design Co., Fayetteville

Structural Engineer: LHC Structural Engineers, Raleigh

MEP Engineer: Optima, Charlotte

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