Arizona’s First Net Zero School Celebrates Grand Opening

TEMPE, Ariz. — Turner Construction Company, Arizona recently announced that it has completed construction on the new Colonel Smith Middle School on Fort Huachuca, Ariz. The public, replacement school was built on the Army’s leading intelligence training facility. The new Colonel Smith Middle School is the first Net Zero Energy school in Arizona and the 12th Net Zero Energy building in the nation. Generating more energy that it consumes on an annual basis, the school is pioneering sustainable design and a unique approach to learning that engages students in real-world problem-solving and experimentation in a collaborative environment.

“This school incorporates a comprehensive opportunity for education through a quality planning, design, and construction process,” states Tony Wall, program manager and president of 3W Management. “This is one of the great schools in America.”

With an instructional focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, planners of Colonel Smith Middle School complex re-thought the traditional design of educational buildings. Facilities support a project-based learning model with flexible common and collaboration spaces, and facilitate learning both indoors and outdoors. The 88,693-square-foot school will accommodate approximately 350 students in grades 6, 7, and 8, primarily children of military families. The architect of record for Colonel Smith Middle School was Emc2 Group Architects Planners; the design architect was Fanning Howey and the general contractor was Turner Construction Company.