And since its September 2004 opening, the school has raked in eight awards and recognitions, the most recent on Friday.
Before an audience of students, school, city and state officials, Cesar Chavez Elementary was recognized for meeting Collaborative for High Performance Schools sustainable design criteria.
The five-agency project team, made up of architecture, energy and construction firms, used alternative construction materials and unconventional building designs on the school.
In doing so, the downtown school surpassed state energy efficiency requirements by more than 34 percent, utilizing recycled materials for insulation and the playground, and natural lighting for classrooms.
Many of the floors are covered in natural linoleum, rather than standard vinyl composition tile, and the play surface for the kindergarten playground uses recycled rubber.
Windows and skylights are also strategically placed throughout the halls and classrooms to minimize the use of artificial lighting.
"My staff and I feel that we're very fortunate to be assigned to this modern, attractive school," Principal Susan Rivard said. "The school was designed for the needs of each person in mind." Though a school adhering to CHPS criteria typically costs 1 to 2 percent more to build, the long-term savings are 10-15 times that through its energy efficiency, said David F. Thorman, architect representative for the state of California.
"That's probably the most significant part of why we do it," Thorman said.
Cesar Chavez Elementary cost $15 million to build, and sits on 2.6 acres north of the World Trade Center, next to Cesar E. Chavez Park.
According to the CHPS Web site, benefits of a high performance school include higher test scores and average daily attendance, reduced operational costs, increased teacher satisfaction and retention and reduced liability and environmental impact.
"It really is great to have this facility exemplify good health and good practice," said Darline Robles, superintendent of Los Angeles County Office of Education. "Long Beach Unified School District is truly a beacon for urban school districts across the country."
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