Maury Elementary School

Maury Elementary School

Application: Walls

Building Type: K-12 Education

Located in Washington D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, Maury Elementary School was originally constructed in 1886. Designed by DLR Group, the renovation incorporated a high-density fiber cement Swisspearl rainscreen assembly with a glass-edged discovery commons to bring a new face on this iconic historic school building. DLR Group’s design complements the surrounding historical residential architecture style while also offering a modernized, state-of-the-art learning environment. “DLR Group’s design team maximized open space for play and community use at Maury Elementary School, which was a key goal for the surrounding community. The creative design of child-scale places, biophilic materials, and indoor-outdoor connections creates a unique educational environment that inspires, attracts, and sparks children’s love of learning,” says DLR Group Principal Sarah Woodhead, AIA.

The Swisspearl panels installed on the skin used the Carat series of through-body colored panels. These panels are PVA fiber-reinforced, and air cured for 30 days, while incorporating 72% cement content; all contributing to the creation of a high-density panel built for durability, strength and long term performance. The semi-translucent finish on the Carat product line creates a depth and softness of color evoking a natural material.

The panels are attached with color-coated pop rivets onto an aluminum VZ.10 subframing system that is thermally broken for performance. PPSI assisted with the wall assembly design which included mineral wool as the continuous insulation installed over Henry Air Bloc17 Fluid Applied Air Barrier to complete the plane of air and thermal barrier. ECO Cladding VZ.10 subframing addressed the community’s desire for an environmentally focused, thermally broken attachment system.

The $42 million, 70,000-square-foot Maury Elementary School modernization project was funded through the District of Columbia Public Schools’ capital improvements program.