Photo Credit: 2RW Consultants

Anna Julia Cooper School Lower School

Richmond, VA

Owner

Anna Julia Cooper School

Timeframe

2024 – 2026

Size

52,000 SF

Cost

$18 million

New two-story lower school building for Anna Julia Cooper School serving approximately 170 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The facility includes classrooms, administrative and support spaces, a cafeteria with commercial kitchen, gymnasium, and outdoor recreation areas, with MEP/FP systems designed to support healthy, comfortable, and reliable day-to-day learning environments.

Project Goals

Anna Julia Cooper School sought to expand its campus to support continued growth and provide a dedicated lower school facility for approximately 170 students in kindergarten through 5th grade. The new building is intended to complement the existing middle school and support the school’s mission of preparing students for long term academic success through placement in regional scholarship programs. The project aims to create a functional, durable, and efficient learning environment that supports both academic and community activities.

Services

2RW provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering services for the new two-story facility, which includes classrooms, administrative spaces, a cafeteria with a commercial kitchen, a gymnasium, and support areas. Mechanical systems were designed to provide consistent ventilation, temperature control, and indoor air quality to support student focus and comfort throughout the school day. The commercial kitchen includes a Type 1 hood, grease interceptor, and coordinated exhaust and make up air systems to safely and effectively support daily food service operations.

Electrical systems support classroom technology, lighting, and building operations, providing reliable power and well-lit learning and recreation spaces, including outdoor areas. Plumbing systems were designed to support daily use with durable, efficient distribution, while fire protection systems provide comprehensive coverage to support occupant safety.

Results

The project delivers a coordinated and constructible MEP design that supports a comfortable and functional learning environment while maintaining simplicity in operation and maintenance. Systems were designed to align with the school’s budget and program needs, providing reliable infrastructure for daily use and future flexibility.

Partners

Bartzen & Ball

Awards

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Team
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Brandon Wilson, PE

Principal
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Mikal Evelyn

BIM/CADD Coordinator
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Jay McKinley

BIM/CADD Coordinator
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Tony Kwon

Electrical Engineer
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Zach Daughtry, PE

Mechanical Engineer
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Collin Murphy

Mechanical Engineer
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John Rey Tangaran

Mechanical Engineer
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Joseph Niedzielski, CPD, GPD

Director of Plumbing & Fire Protection
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Jessica Presley, CPDT

Plumbing Engineer
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John Stanfield, PE, LEED AB BD+C

Project Engineer, Mechanical

Project Gallery

Image credit

2RW Consultants

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