BBS Architects wins three awards in Learning by Design competition; Includes 11,500 s/f Plainedge Athletics Community Center

BBS Architects, Landscape Architects & Engineers has won three awards in the national Learning by Design competition. The bi-annual awards program recognizes the most innovative architectural and interior design school projects in the U.S. The firm designed educational projects valued in excess of $1.6 billion since 2000, including the one of the first LEED-certified public schools in the state. Since 2010, it had 10 projects that either received LEED certification or were undergoing the certification process. BBS won the 2012 Outstanding Project awards for three K-12 school projects located on Long Island. The firm received the General Excellence Award in the School Community Center/Joint-Use Facility category for the Plainedge Athletics & Community Center in North Massapequa; the Renovations/Adaptive Reuse Award in the Entire School/Campus Building category for the South Bay Elementary School in West Babylon; and the Green Design - Sustainability & Learning Award in the High School category for the Southampton High School campus expansions and renovations in Southampton. "We are very proud to have received national recognition for BBS' design work for Long Island schools," said BBS president and lead architect Roger Smith, AIA, LEED AP. "The 2012 Learning by Design awards acknowledge not only BBS' architectural and engineering expertise, but also the dedication of local boards of education and school districts to provide students with the most advanced school facilities in the nation." BBS designed the new, 11,500 s/f Plainedge Athletics & Community Center, which was jointly developed by The Plainedge Union Free School District and the town of Oyster Bay. Both the school district and the local community share the use of the recently completed sports and events facility. The structure contains a 1,000 s/f community room, a 7,000 s/f gymnasium, and locker rooms. The project is targeting a LEED Silver certification and is currently undergoing the certification process. BBS incorporated a high number of sustainable design and engineering solutions in the building. These include daylighting, photovoltaic panels, heightened indoor air quality, significant reductions in energy consumption, and the use of renewable resources and materials. The architectural design expresses the shared public functions of the building. For example, the translucent panels, which provide natural lighting during the day, give off a subtle glow in the evening, indicating a welcoming community facility. As part of a $53-million Southampton Union Free School District capital program, Southampton High School received several building additions and renovations, including a new two-story wing that houses science and regular classrooms as well as a greenhouse. The $20.8 million project also encompassed interior renovations within the pre-existing building and a new, 10,000 s/f auxiliary gymnasium addition with locker room facilities. The 180,000 s/f project is undergoing the LEED certification process with a LEED Silver rating goal. BBS collaborated on the project with Beatty, Harvey, Coco Architects LLP. BBS designed the $14-million reconstruction of the South Bay Elementary School in West Babylon following a fire, which nearly destroyed the structure in February 2010. The 47,000 s/f reconstruction was completed on an accelerated schedule, allowing students to return to their rebuilt school in September 2011. BBS served the client, the West Babylon Union Free School District, as the project's architect and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer. The new elementary school has three wings and houses 17 full-size classrooms as well as specialty classrooms such as the music and art rooms. The average classroom size is 780 square feet. The entire school features wireless Internet access. BBS devised several interior design solutions that not only addressed the school's current needs, but also provides flexibility for future revisions. For example, the specialty classrooms feature light gypsum board and metal stud walls, which can be easily removed to create larger classrooms. Other improvements included the 3,800-square-foot gymnasium, a 1,500-square-foot kitchen, the 2,200-square-foot cafeteria/multipurpose room, 1,500-square-foot library and an 800-square-foot theatrical stage with sophisticated lighting, sound, curtain and automatic overhead projection systems. The Learning by Design program was developed by the National School Boards Association and Stratton Publishing & Marketing, with support from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI), the APPA - Leadership in Educational Facilities, and the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities. Headquartered in Patchogue, NY and established in 1975, BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers is a leading Long Island and NY/NJ/CT Tri-state area designer of sustainable educational, commercial, institutional, public and athletic facilities. The firm designed the first LEED-certified public school in New York State, the Hampton Bays Middle School in Hampton Bays, NY, which received a LEED Silver certification as well as the 2012 Green Ribbon School designation from the White House and the U.S. Department of Education. Over the last decade, BBS has designed educational facilities valued at $1.6 billion. The firm's services include architecture, interior design and landscape architecture as well as civil, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering. BBS' current and recent work includes the new 60,000-square-foot Life Sciences Building at the Suffolk County Community College Ammerman Campus in Selden, NY, which is targeting LEED Gold certification; the 100-room Hyatt Place East End hotel in Riverhead, NY; Long Island University's $1.6-million Mullarkey Hall renovation in Brookville, NY; the new, three-story, 25,500-square-foot addition at the Southampton Elementary School in Southampton, NY; the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Administrative Building in Coram, NY; the 24,000-square-foot Brown's Fiat and the new Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in North Merrick, NY.