5 Schools that are also Passive Houses

If you think Passive House is only for houses, think again. Any building can be a Passive House, but we especially love seeing Passive House schools. The benefits of Passive House are perfect for enabling learning, from pre-school to higher education.

With dozens of students gathering in classrooms, cafeterias, and study rooms, schools can often be a vector of disease. Anyone learning in person during the COVID years probably remembers taking notes with the windows open, even in the winter. That’s because good ventilation is key to keeping students healthy during cold and flu season, and with Passive House, we can keep our schools well-ventilated without letting in the wind or rain.

Passive House also keeps out unwanted noise from the soccer field or marching band, enabling students to better concentrate on their tasks. Best of all, the extreme efficiency of Passive House allows schools to save money on energy bills, lowering operating costs and freeing up funds for textbooks, after school programs, and other upgrades to support student learning. Check out this list of 5 of our favorite Passive House schools, each designed to fill a different educational need.

The Waring New School

Located in Beverly, MA, Waring School gained a new campus entrance, auditorium, classrooms, and more with The Bridge. Designed by Opal Architecture, this building doesn’t just bring Passive House efficiency and wellness to the middle and high school student body. It also creates a more accessible campus. You can check out the details by watching our Passive House Case Study featuring Timothy Lock, a member of the design team.

College of the Atlantic

Another Opal Architecture project, this building serves as the Davis Center for Human Ecology at the College of the Atlantic. It includes art studios, offices, teaching and collaboration spaces, various laboratories, and a greenhouse, and is set to consume 80% less energy than a similar building at standard code. The Passive House approach enabled the team to utilize simpler mechanical systems, reducing operational costs for the life of the building without compromising on necessary lab safety standards.

Elizabeth Jennings School & Khalil Gibran International Academy

The first Passive House school in New York is actually two schools in one. An elementary school and an Arabic language high school share this Passive House building designed by Architecture Research Office. The noise-reduction that Passive House brings is ideal for the busy Brooklyn street it sits on, helping students concentrate on their studies. This building reduces energy consumption by more than 70%, and shared kitchens and recreational facilities optimize the available space while allowing each school its own distinct identity.

Rubin Hall Retrofit

Passive House isn’t just for new buildings, and the retrofit of Rubin Hall proves it. Originally constructed as a hotel in 1926, the 17-story Greenwich Village Historic District building now houses 700 students and faculty as an NYU Dorm. The EnerPHit building invites calm, efficiency, and wellness into students’ lives around the clock. Dorm rooms, student lounges, music practice rooms, kitchens, and laundry facilities are just some of the features included in this building. You can learn more by watching an online symposium we held on the building, featuring Cecil Scheib from NYU, Cheryl Saldanha from Simpson Gumpertz and Heger, Dylan Martello from Steven Winter Associates, Jeffrey Rios from AKF Group, and Michael Syracuse from FXCollaborative.

Tufts University

Coming soon! Tufts University has recently broken ground on two new residence halls that will house over 664 students. The apartment-style units will marry the educational needs of a college building with the multifamily efficiency that Passive House excels in. The lower floors will also house retail and social spaces, helping students connect with the surrounding community. Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects and Steven Winter Associates, this project is slated to open in Fall 2027.

Extra Credit! – Kaplan Thompson Architects

We have one more excellent example of a Passive House school, this time in Cumberland Foreside, Maine with the K-8 Friends School of Portland. Filled with natural light from windows that show the surrounding forest, this building maintains a connection with nature, inside and out. The building generates 100% of its own energy on-site through photovoltaic panels, reducing future operation costs and decreasing the school’s dependence on fundraising or drawing on its endowment. Learn more about this project by checking out our Schools Symposium.

No matter what your educational building needs, Passive House is ready to rise to the challenge and exceed it. If looking at all of these beautiful school buildings leaves you wanting to learn more, you’re in luck. Our next Certified Passive House Designer course kicks off on October 2nd. Learn more and register now.