Occoquan Elementary School, a new elementary school in Woodbridge, Va., has officially broken ground, and is set to become the first net-zero school for the Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) district.
The new 11,148 m2 (120,000 sf) school will have three levels and include educational and support spaces for 850 kindergarteners through fifth-grade students. Additionally, it will feature six classrooms per grade, shared resource rooms and extended learning spaces, two special education classrooms, science and music classrooms, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, a library/media center space, and administrative and support spaces for teachers and staff.
With sustainability incorporated right from the design process, it will also feature solar orientation for daylighting, 96 geothermal wells, and construction that uses sustainable design principles for high-performance buildings. The school is pursuing Net Zero Energy and LEED Silver certification.
Perkins Eastman designed the new building considering the school’s inclusive culture and motto of “four tribes, one village” by paying homage to the four tribes, Altruista, Lealtad, Mpango, and Seigo-Sei.
The new Occoquan Elementary School is scheduled to open in fall 2026.
