Prairie Creek Intermediate School, serving 5th and 6th graders, is being recognized for its impressive energy efficiency! Opened last fall, the school has achieved a remarkable 46% annual energy savings compared to standard construction practices. This achievement has earned them the prestigious 2024 Excellence in Energy Efficient Design Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Iowa.

The award will be presented at the AIA Iowa Convention in September, honoring College Community School District, OPN Architects, and Design Engineers for their collaborative effort. Prairie Creek Intermediate School stood out among nearly 150 projects in the Commercial New Construction program, with only the top four receiving recognition at the AIA Convention.

“There are several priorities we consider when building new spaces for our learners,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Wheeler. “Energy efficiency is a top priority to both model responsibility to our students and to reduce ongoing operational costs for District residents.  We are proud of the energy efficiencies we find in all of our products through our partnership with OPN and our design teams.”