Wilkerson Elementary School

Geothermal Innovation Supporting 700 Students
Louisville, Kentucky
Jefferson County Public Schools
82,532 SF

The new Dixie Corridor Elementary School combined the student population of Wilkerson Elementary School and Watson Lane Elementary School. With the capacity to serve 700 K-5 students, the new school included an outdoor classroom, a full-size gymnasium, a cafeteria, a full commercial kitchen, a media center, an art room, and a music room. This school features various energy-efficient systems, modern technology, and increased safety features.

The gymnasium area of the facility has been designed for use as a tornado storm shelter. Battery-powered lights, natural ventilation, and dedicated plumbing are included to allow the space to serve as a shelter during a tornado event.

Geothermal water source heat pumps provide heating/cooling to all spaces in the building. A dedicated outside air system provides ventilation to all spaces in the building. Occupancy-based ventilation control is provided in classrooms, and CO2-based control is provided in high-occupancy areas such as the gym, cafeteria, and media center to reduce energy use based on occupancy.

New electrical systems include high-performance interior and exterior lighting utilizing energy-efficient LED fixtures. Daylight sensors are located throughout the building to automatically reduce lighting levels where natural daylight is sufficient. Additionally, low-flow plumbing fixtures were designed to minimize water consumption.