Preface

​The purpose of this Quality and Performance document is to provide a design standard and level of quality for building systems and materials to be incorporated into new school facilities funded by the School Building Authority (SBA).  This document is not intended to pre-exempt or substitute for the judgment of the project design professionals.  Information regarding designs, building products, materials or required building systems deemed to be most appropriate will remain the responsibility of the design professional, construction manager and contractors.  Where variations from the minimum specified Quality and Performance Standards are desired, a request for variance may be submitted to the SBA office for review and approval.  Additionally, proto-typical site diagrams, building space relationships and various academic spaces have been developed.  Typical academic areas, classrooms, science classroom/labs and technology spaces are identified as proto-typical for all schools.  These spaces will be reviewed annually to insure compatibility with every changing academic needs.  The Quality and Performance Design Criteria Guide describes major building systems, materials, features, components and performance standards.  Where required by the SBA, it will require life cycle cost analysis of these components to assure uniformity, energy efficiency, functionality, and to determine the most cost effective and maintainable school building designs.

 

A Quality and Performance Committee was formed to address issues of standardizing SBA school components and proto-typing areas of new school designs, where possible.  The Authority established the initial Quality and Performance Committee made up of design professionals, contractors, suppliers and professional educators.  Several sub-committees were established to study various building systems in more detail and to provide recommendations on specific design areas of schools.  Additionally, on-site meetings were held around the state and post occupancy surveys were performed to gather input from superintendents, teachers, parents and students.  All comments were compiled and reviewed by the Quality and Performance Committee as well as the SBA staff.  This document includes the input from all stakeholders in the school planning, design and construction process.  Special thanks must be given to N. Kent Gandee, AIA, REFP, for his assistance in the preparation of the original document.  Mr. Gandee’s experience and background in school planning and design proved invaluable in the development of this document. 

 

Systems and materials are not rigidly structured and will allow designs to reflect and enhance the community desires for aesthetically pleasing and functional school buildings.  The SBA reserves the right to consider all systems and building components based on the scope of the project and specific design conditions. 

 

Systems and materials proposed for use in building designs that differ from those outlined in this document will be considered providing a written request with supporting documentation is submitted to the SBA for review and approval. 

 

Alternate building systems and materials that are not approved or are proposed for use and not critical to the building design will become the responsibility of the county board of education.

 

High Performance Green School building systems and materials are referenced within this document to provide unique comprehensive tools to construct Green School components that address acoustics, indoor air quality, energy use reduction, water conservation, day lighting and thermal comfort of SBA school buildings. 

 

A single building project will be selected from each needs funding cycle to incorporate a High Performance Green School philosophy within the design and to obtain a LEED Silver Certification.  The SBA will review this matter annually to determine the expansion and/or continuation of the LEED certification program.

 

The SBA feels good architecture in West Virginia schools is achievable and can be affordable.  The SBA encourages high-quality decision making to create stimulating and aesthetically pleasing architecture.  School planners should explore spaces, materials and resources with imagination and efficiency and create flexible, durable, and sustainable schools that are both attractive and healthy for students and faculty.  With each new project, the SBA develops higher expectations with respect to design and construction standards to deliver a school that becomes a proud legacy to the communities within the State of West Virginia. 

 

The School Building Authority recognizes that building systems, material and technologies advance at a rapid rate in an ever-changing economic society, thus, this Quality and Performance Design Criteria Document will certainly require reviews, updates and adjustments on a yearly basis. 

 

 

 

Members of the School Building Authority

 

School Building Authority Staff

 

Acknowledgements