Andrew H. Wilson Elementary School in New Orleans had been serving the children and community of the Broadmoor neighborhood since 1907, until 2005 when the historic building was sadly flooded and damaged during Hurricane Katrina. As a result of the efforts of the Louisiana Recovery School District and the Broadmoor Improvement Association, the local landmark is being restored and improved, with the existing structure renovated and new facilities added. The Recovery School District has high expectations for both education environment and sustainable features; the facility is a charter school and expected to achieve LEED Gold certification.
The renovation and addition to Wilson Elementary School is an example of the Recovery School District’s community commitment, and is meant to set a new standard for New Orleans school construction. The project’s healthy, sustainable school design provides the Broadmoor neighborhood with both an excellent learning environment and a valuable public center. Designed as a partnership by HMS Architects of New Orleans and Innovative Design, Inc. of Raleigh North Carolina, the school features a comprehensive and well-integrated set of sustainable design strategies that include:
Site Design that responds to the context of an urban neighborhood and solar orientation.
Stormwater Management reduces runoff more than 50% from pre-development.
Integrated lighting design with both daylighting and high-efficiency fixtures.
Solar technology, both as solar thermal water heating and photovoltaic panels.
Energy-efficient building shell construction
Efficient water use with rainwater catchment and irrigation, and low-flow fixtures.
High-performance mechanical and electrical system design.
Priority on indoor air quality management.
Sustainable materials: priority on local, recycled, and existing material resources
Performance standards assured by systems monitoring and commissioning procedures.
LEED Gold certification (in process).

Supporting these goals are grants and assistance from the Clinton Global Initiative, Global Green Initiative, United States Green Building Council, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.