Campus Construction

The Pine Crest School’s Lower School Replacement Building at the Boca Raton Campus has achieved LEED for School Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), an accomplishment that makes it the first Pine Crest LEED Certified academic building.   The new Lower School was successfully completed and opened for use by students, parents, faculty and staff occupancy in August 2009 school year.   This beautiful new Lower School facility pioneers a new direction for schools in the nation and places Pine Crest School as a leader as one of the first entities to facilitate a project based learning methodology within the development of a LEED Gold certified facility.   The project was designed by Zyscovich Architects in Miami and constructed by James B. Pirtle Construction Co., Inc. within a very aggressive schedule while the campus was in use by student, parents, faculty and staff. 

The 59,000 square foot building is comprised of 28 classrooms for students from Pre-Primary through fifth grades, including science classrooms and the Lower School Administrative offices. The classroom wings are arranged asymmetrically, yet are organized into ‘houses’ corresponding to grade levels, from the Early Childhood Learning Center (PK-K) to the Fifth Grade at the second floor.  All grade levels are arranged around an extended learning area to form a ‘pod’.  The central interactive teaching spaces, allow for student project based learning and exploration and discovery to be realized.  Also incorporated into the pod are storage and teaching planning spaces to facilitate staff interaction and group learning.