Eppstein Uhen Architects: Lake Mills Elementary School has achieved LEED Platinum certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) designed the 600-student, two-story building on the existing site. The district’s goal was to make sure the facility would ensure sustainable design and include energy efficient options. This goal matches the passion of EUA’s Learning Environment team of creating innovative, modern learning environments for today’s students. To reach this goal, the project participated as a beta test for the new LEED v4 pilot program. As the first school to earn Platinum under this new rating system, Lake Mills Elementary School can claim to be the greenest school in the nation.
Lake Mills hired EUA in the fall of 2011 to assist with pre-referendum planning and design services to address their aging, overcrowded elementary school. To foster community engagement, EUA recommended working with a community-based committee to determine needs as part of a long-term facilities plan. Based on the feedback, Lake Mills decided to pursue replacing the existing elementary school and the $18.7 million referendum was passed in November 2012.