Sustainable Design

The opportunities to incorporate green design principles into modern facilities are bounded only by the limits of creativity. For each project, our team develops a collaborative approach to create a realistic and achievable design. Our focus is on both the overall picture as well as specific details to determine the goals, strategies and project priorities relative to energy and sustainable design.

We have several professionals within our firm with extensive experience in confirming compliance with the LEED rating system and in calculating the energy cost savings. We use state-of-the-art building energy analysis simulation tools to project annual energy consumption and costs.

Schorr Architects currently has (6) projects that are LEED Gold Certified and (17) projects that are LEED Silver Certified. Additionally, we have (3) projects that are Silver Registered Under Review.

  • Thomas Worthington High School

    Berne Union Local Schools

    Silver Registered Under Review

  • Lancaster High School & Career Tech Center

    Lancaster City Schools

    Silver Registered Under Review

  • Berne Union PK-12 School

    Berne Union Local Schools

    Silver Registered Under Review

  • Pleasant View Middle School

    South-Western City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2024

  • Norton Middle School

    South-Western City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2024

  • Finland Middle School

    South-Western City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2024

  • Brookepark Middle School

    South-Western City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2024

  • Morrison-Gordon Elementary School

    Athens City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2024

  • East Elementary School

    Athens City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2024

  • Worthingway Middle School

    Worthington City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2022

  • Perry/Phoenix Middle Schools

    Worthington City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2022

  • Bloom-Carroll Primary School

    Bloom-Carroll City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2023

  • The Plains Elementary School

    Athens City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2023

  • General Sherman Junior High School

    Lancaster City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2022

  • Franklin Medical Center Transient Hub & Warehouse

    Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction (ODRC)
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2021

  • Thomas Ewing Junior High School

    Lancaster City Schools
    Certification level: Gold
    Certified: 2021

  • Medill Elementary School

    Lancaster City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2020

  • Tallmadge Elementary School

    Lancaster City Schools
    Certification level: Gold
    Certified: 2019

  • Tarhe Trails Elementary School

    Lancaster City Schools
    Certification level: Gold
    Certified: 2017

  • Mt. Pleasant Elementary School

    Lancaster City Schools
    Certification level: Gold
    Certified: 2017

  • Gorsuch West Elementary School

    Lancaster City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2017

  • Whitehall-Yearling High School

    Whitehall City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2015

  • Kae Avenue Elementary School

    Whitehall City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2014

  • Etna Road Elementary School

    Whitehall City Schools
    Certification level: Gold
    Certified: 2014

  • Beechwood Elementary School

    Whitehall City Schools
    Certification level: Gold
    Certified: 2014

  • Rosemore Middle School

    Whitehall City Schools
    Certification level: Silver
    Certified: 2013

Some of the many ways to incorporate green design principles include:

  • Utilizing daylighting to reduce peak demands for electricity.

  • Improving indoor air quality by increasing air changes and by selecting indoor finishes and materials with low emissions and high resistance to molds and bacteria.

  • Taking advantage of site orientation and building configuration to maximize air flow, control heat gain, and improve daylighting opportunities.

  • Utilizing natural, locally available materials.

  • Improving mechanical system efficiencies by integrating building system design.

  • Specifying high-efficiency condensing boilers (DeDietrich).

  • Utilizing efficient light sources and controls to reduce energy demand.

  • Incorporating variable frequency drives (VFDs) on air-handling equipment (WEG Electric Corp.).

  • Incorporating direct-digital temperature controls.

  • Selecting materials for ease of long-term maintenance and extended lift of the building.

  • Designing site and plumbing systems for water conservation and economies.

  • Considering renewable energy sources for supplemental and emergency use.

  • Maintaining recycling efforts during construction and in the planning of the facility.

  • Commissioning the mechanical systems to refine the design and improve operations.

  • Welcoming the community to use the building as a teaching and learning tool.