Sandy Spring Friends School Upper School

Photo Credit: 2RW Consultants, Courtesy Alain Jaramilo

Sandy Spring Friends School Upper School

Olney, MD

Owner

Sandy Spring Friends School

Sustainability

Net-Zero Energy Ready
WELL Certified Gold

Timeframe

2017 – 2020

Size

42,000 SF, 3 levels

Cost

$14 million

MEP/FP engineering for this upper school supports classrooms, maker spaces, collaboration areas, offices, and student commons with systems aligned to WELL and IgCC standards. The design includes a hybrid geothermal and VRV mechanical system with DOAS and energy recovery, natural ventilation strategies, LED lighting with digital controls, EV charging, and efficient plumbing systems.

Project Goals

Sandy Spring Friends School sought to develop a new Upper School that reflects its traditions, identity, and values while advancing its mission as an innovative leader within the independent school community. Guided by principles of simplicity, stewardship, and wellness, the project aimed to deliver an energy-efficient facility that conserves natural resources and supports the health and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.

Services

The new Upper School includes classrooms, maker spaces, collaboration areas, faculty offices, an administration suite, and a student commons, all designed to support flexible, modern learning environments.

2RW provided MEP/FP engineering for high-performance building systems, including a hybrid mechanical system combining geothermal water-source heat pumps and variable refrigerant volume technology, supported by dedicated outdoor air systems with energy recovery. Natural ventilation strategies were implemented through operable windows and green-light sensors to indicate optimal conditions for passive ventilation. The electrical design included LED lighting with digital controls to maximize efficiency and electric vehicle charging stations. Plumbing systems incorporated energy-efficient instantaneous domestic water heaters. 2RW collaborated closely with the design team and stakeholders to define project goals and align building systems with WELL Building and the International Green Construction Code. Site visits were conducted to document existing conditions, including adjacent site elements, grading, and utility infrastructure that informed system design.

Results

The Upper School is the first building in Montgomery County constructed in accordance with the International Green Construction Code, which adds green provisions beyond baseline code requirements to address local climate and regulatory priorities. The net-zero energy-ready design leverages the existing campus photovoltaic array and positions the facility for long-term energy performance. WELL Building strategies incorporated into the design include enhanced ventilation controls with monitoring, filtration, and distribution to improve system effectiveness, along with lighting controls that maximize natural daylight and maintain balanced luminance throughout the building. Together, these measures support energy efficiency, occupant wellness, and sustainable campus operations.