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Building Excellence: The Blueprint for High-Performance Environments & the Financial Advantage
Room: 105
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
It is our responsibility to ensure that educational facilities maximize the return on investment made by their communities. High-performance environments provide measurable value to students, teachers, district long-term financial success, and the community. This session will educate, inspire, and equip participants with the economic benefits, guidance, and tools to advocate for committing to planning, designing, and executing high-performance projects because of their financial returns.
This session will define high-performance projects and their specific characteristics that improve health, wellness, and safety, leading to increased academic performance, attendance, and teacher retention. This session will also outline how high-performance projects reduce long-term operational costs by lowering utility bills, preparing for climate change, and providing adaptable spaces for different teaching and learning styles.
Finally, this session will demonstrate the economic case for investing in high-performance schools and share examples of their value, providing and tools to assist districts in executing high-performance projects.
Learning Objectives:
- Define the Concept of High-Performance Schools – The What.
- Analyze the Impact on Academic Performance and Teacher Retention: Place Matters!
- Evaluate the Economic Benefits of High-Performance Schools: Maxmimizing Positive Outcomes.
- Develop Strategies for Planning and Executing High-Performance School Projects – The How.
• Gain insights into the economic case for investing in high-performance schools through real-world examples and case studies.
• Acquire practical guidance, tools, and resources to aid in the planning, design, and execution of high-performance school projects.
Speakers:
Mary Ruppenthal, Architect | Education Market Sector Leader, HED
Alex Buchanan, Technical Director, Collaborative for High Performance Schools
Christos Chrysiliou, Chief Eco-Sustainability Officer, LA Unified School District
Eric Driever, Principal Architect, Division of the State Architect
Mary has over 29 years of professional architectural experience and expertise specializing in educational projects throughout California. She is committed to collaborating with Districts, stakeholders, professional industry partners, and communities in shaping environments that elevate and enhance user engagement, performance, equity, health, and wellness and maximize educational and community outcomes.
She has been a Board Member of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) since 2019 and is serving as the current NorCal/Nevada Chapter President; and earned her M. Arch from UC-Berkeley and B.SC. in Architecture from UW-Milwaukee.
As the Technical Director for CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools), Alex leads a team to certify school buildings across the country. She brings broad experience and expertise to advancing sustainable school design, advocates for green building practices, and supports design teams in creating healthier, more energy-efficient learning environments. Before joining CHPS, Alex worked as a commissioning engineer, consulting on projects aiming for energy-efficient design and green building certifications, with a focus on K-12 schools and higher education. She also gained hands-on experience in construction management with a design-build firm, deepening her understanding of building design and construction. Alex is a LEED AP BD+C and holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado Denver.
As Chief Eco-Sustainability Officer for the Los Angeles Unified School District, Christos Chrysiliou is responsible for visioning, development and implementation of sustainability and energy initiatives with the goal of reducing the District’s carbon and water footprint, increasing campus greening, and promoting climate literacy. Prior to this position, Christos served as the Director of Architecture and Engineering (A&E) Services for over a decade with the Facilities Services Division of the LAUSD. He has been at the forefront of LAUSD’s efforts to promote sustainable design practices, the clean energy and decarbonization transition, campus ecology and healthier, more eco-friendly school environments.
Eric Driever has been the Principal Architect at the Division of the State Architect HQ /Codes and Standards since October 2021, he is responsible for management of DSA access, fire/life safety and sustainability programs, for regulation development and interpretation for CALGreen for schools and for CBC Chapter 11B Access Code. As the Principal Architect he is also responsible for oversight of the CASp Program and the Executive Director of the Historical Building Safety Board.
Eric has 9 years prior experience as Senior and Supervising Architect with the Department of General Services/RESD and managing the Access Barrier Removal Program, in addition to responsibilities as Senior and Supervising Architect. Eric Driever has 15 years’ prior experience in private architectural firms focused on schools and other commercial projects.
