Twin Rivers Charter School
Twin Rivers Charter School
Yuba City, California
The Twin Rivers Charter School buildings are modeled after the NZE School Prototype and are highly energy efficient and sustainable, and incorporate a number of innovative systems. All major building components are pre-fabricated off site, which expedites construction, reduces waste, and minimizes traffic. Two independent structural systems—a pre-engineered metal building shell and reconfigurable, non-structural interior walls—create a flexible building, able to support a variety of spaces; and adaptable to future changes in program, size, pedagogy, technology, and operations. Each classroom features a skylight, providing natural abundant light. Steel was chosen as the primary building material because of its high recycled content and potential for future recycling. The long-span steel structure is built for disassembly, utilizing bolted rather than welded connections, facilitating easy alterations as well as end-of-life recycling.
After many years at a local church site, the new charter school campus now sits on 6.3 acres with two buildings totaling 40,000 SF serving 470 elementary and middle school students. The new campus also includes an attached lunch shelter, outdoor amphitheater, a multi-purpose hall for PE classes and special events, as well as a running track and athletic that look out onto the Sutter Butte mountain ranges.
Landscape-inspired features
The baltic birch ceiling panels were inspired by valley peaks in the surrounding Sutter Buttes landscape. The geometric design presents the illusion of an inverted mountain range. The colors of the surrounding mountains, golden rice fields, blue sky, deep red earth, and various colors of sunrays informed the colors that we incorporated into the buildings. The suspended fluorescent tube installation honors the annual tundra swan migration—defined in the blue sky, swooping down on golden rice fields. Inspired by the orchards nearby, we also placed clusters of trees at the main plaza between the two school buildings. Trees planned at the plaza are deciduous which will add rich colors as seasons change and provide shade in the summer and allow warmth and sunlight in the winter.
Education Charter School Net Zero Energy Design-Build / Twin Rivers Charter School
Client
Erik Karlshoej Education Foundation
Mike Paustian
Design
Goodnight Structural Engineering, structural engineer
ANLA Associates Inc., landscape architect
Build
Hilbers Inc., general contractor
Butler Manufacturing, pre-engineered metal building
Allcom Plumbing
Dickson Mechanical
All Phase System Integration
Perfection Electric
Quick Action Fire Protection