Practice What You Teach
By making sustainability a key part of their campus planning and policies, Adlai E. Stevenson High School has created a campus that reduces its carbon footprint and conserves resources. By turning policy into practice, the campus sets an example of environmental responsibility, especially in areas like energy, water, and wellness.
The school has a natural gas peaker plant that allows it to disconnect from the local electrical grid when needed while keeping all buildings fully operational. This program brings in significant revenue and helps reduce the strain on the community's electrical grid. Energy-saving efforts, such as regular maintenance, equipment upgrades, and improvements to mechanical systems, make the campus more efficient and resilient to power issues.
Additionally, the school manages all stormwater on campus using various methods to promote water absorption and an integrated system to handle large amounts of water, reducing the impact on the community. The campus does not overuse freshwater resources, as rainwater is collected and treated for use in one of the three living wall systems on campus.
The district’s commitment to healthy learning spaces through a sustainable building has been validated by multiple campus certifications for high performance design, including LEED EBOM, LEED Platinum, LAPT Platinum, International Living Future Institute’s Zero Energy Certification, and the WELL Building Standard certification.
Design for Well-being
The design of school buildings has a big impact on students' physical and mental well-being. Natural light, good ventilation, and comfortable temperatures help create a positive learning environment. When students feel comfortable and safe, they can focus better and stay engaged, even when facing academic or personal challenges.
At Stevenson, the campus is designed to maximize natural light and provide views of the outside. The school uses Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) to ensure each space gets the right amount of fresh air. Additionally, each Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) unit has bipolar ionization to purify the air, and ultraviolet light in the mechanical equipment further improves air quality.
Stevenson also promotes wellness through other policies. A resident nutritionist is available to help students and staff make healthy dietary choices. The Student Services Team provides support for both social-emotional and academic needs. Fitness programs, including group classes and one-on-one coaching, are available to all students, not just athletes. The fitness facility is open to students and staff before and after class, on weekends, and during the summer.
The buildings also incorporate biophilic design, which brings elements of nature indoors to improve students' mental and cognitive well-being. Research shows that biophilic design can reduce stress and anxiety while boosting attention, memory, and overall cognitive function.
Use the Building as a Teaching Tool
With both infrastructure and environmental features in place, the building itself becomes a teaching tool. The rooftop, often overlooked as a valuable space, is used for educational purposes with prairie gardens, accessible farm tables, and greenhouses. These features help reduce heat, energy use, and stormwater runoff while providing hands-on learning opportunities.
Monitors in the school display real-time data on energy production and usage, rainwater collection, and food grown in the rooftop garden. Various permanent plaques highlight the building's sustainable features, such as a two-story biofilter living wall connected to the HVAC system.
These features of Adlai E. Stevenson High School’s campus design and policies work together to create a strong and supportive environment. This helps students succeed academically, physically, and mentally.
