Turner Tops Out First Net-Zero School in Arizona

Turner Construction Company celebrated the topping-out of Colonel Smith Middle School, Monday, December 12.  The school is under construction on Fort Huachuca, the Army's leading intelligence training facility. The school will be the first net-zero energy building in Arizona and the twelfth in the nation. With its energy-efficient design, solar potable water heating, photovoltaic panels, and wind machines, Colonel Smith Middle School will generate more energy than it consumes, annually.

The topping-out ceremony included a presentation, and signing and raising of the final beam. Attendees included School Superintendent, Dr. Ronda Fruehauf; school district board members; Army Post Commander, Colonel Faulkner; District Project Manager, Tony Wall with 3W Management; representatives from Emc2 Group Architects Planners; and representatives from Fanning/Howey Architects.  

With an instructional focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), planners of Colonel Smith Middle School complex re-thought the traditional design of educational buildings.  Facilities will support a project-based learning model with flexible common and collaboration spaces, and facilitate learning both indoors and outdoors.  The 88,700 square foot school will accommodate approximately 350 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students

Shawn Rosenberger, General Manager of Turner Construction Company, Arizona, states, "Colonel Smith Middle School defines innovation.  Not only is this one of the few Net Zero buildings in the country, the design is a total transformation from the typical classrooms where most of us went to school.  Turner is proud to be a part of this stellar team and this remarkable project."