BACICH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
NEW MULTI-USE BUILDING DESIGN AND MODERNIZATION

Kentfield, CA

Kentfield School District

CSDA worked closely with the school's Superintendent, Director of Facilities, and staff to design a new user-oriented, student-focused, 8,000 SF multi-use Community Center. Completed in 2003, the Community Center accommodates children for lunch, serves as an indoor play area for physical education, and is available to the Marin County residents for community events. Construction cost including site work for the facility was approximately $1.8 Million. Other design work completed by CSDA included a new central campus kitchen, a round library building, more than $1 Million in modernization work and a $1.26 million, 154.5 kilowatt AC, roof-mounted solar photovoltaic electric generating system that was installed on the roofs of most of the campus buildings.

Built with funds raised by a recent construction bond and matching funds received from the Public Utility Commission, the solar panels are a "green" method for transferring energy and conserving natural resources. In operation since 2005, the solar panels produce enough electricity to meet the needs of the buildings on the school campus. The panels pass electricity back into the grid for use by the community.  Bacich Elementary School teachers use the solar panels as a tool to teach students about the environment. Students are able to track energy generation using school computers.