We had the wonderful opportunity to work with an architecture school in San Salvador to develop the master plan for an eight-acre high school campus in northwestern El Salvador, a country that to this day remains challenged from the ravages of a destructive civil war. The Figueroa Foundation stressed the importance of sustainability in the project; here, the concept of being evironmentally efficient isn't a luxury but a necessity.

 

It was important to study the local climate and resources - what is "green" in Southern California may not be so environmentally sound in El Salvador. On site water treatment, passive cooling through the use of thermal roofs, and daylighting strategies were among the many solutions proposed for this special project.