Green Street Academy is a Baltimore City Public Charter School that serves 875 students from grades 6 through 12. Hord Coplan Macht designed the renovation of a vacant 130,000 sf Baltimore City Public School originally built in 1925. The 100,000 sf program includes innovative and collaborative learning spaces that are designed for the learner.
Green Street Academy achieved a LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council under the Schools v2009 rating system. This mark is the highest rating achievable and ranks Green Street Academy in the top 4% of all schools using this system.
At the time of its certification, Green Street was the second largest platinum project in the world and the only one in Maryland and Baltimore under the LEED Schools v3 rating system.
Originally constructed in 1925 as Gwynns Falls Park High School, the building had been abandoned for 20+ years prior to the start of construction. Fitting the new program into the existing building required an understanding of the value of the existing elements, as well as a vision for how the building could adapt to Green Street’s needs. In designing the space, the architects were able to maximize the existing floor plan for the school as well as retain much of the building’s original beauty.
The design includes an enclosed courtyard featuring an interactive aquaponics center, allowing students to experience fish farming, raising vegetables and the clean water cycle. The site provides additional learning spaces including a habitat conservatory, forestry lab, community orchard, global classroom, a water resource exhibit and solar array.
Awards:
• Public Building of the Year, AIA MD, 2016
• Excellence in Sustainable + Resilient Design, AIA Baltimore 2016
• First Place for Sustainability, American Society of Interior Designers Maryland
• Wintergreen Presidents Award, USGBC MD, 2016
• Excellence in Construction Award, ABC Baltimore, 2016
• Project of the Year, ABC Baltimore, 2016
• Rehabilitation Award, Baltimore Heritage, 2016
Certified LEED Schools 2009 – Platinum
