RACHEL CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

The Rachel Carson Schoool Project is a high school campus located in Irvine, California. This project was a collaborative effort between Construction and Civil Engineering students who designed and constructed a net-zero carbon design-build campus that included a classroom building, lab building, gymnasium, and outdoor parking. The project was initiated when Clark Construction, the owner, provided a request for proposal that outlined various challenges such as budget & time constraints, deadlines, required school facilities, and LEED certification. The team incorporated multiple disciplines like BIM modeling, geotechnical, structural, construction, sustainability, and land development to achieve the project goals. The project presented a unique challenge due to the specific room requirements and high school amenities that had to be incorporated. However, through the team's collaborative effort, the project was successfully completed, exceeding the client's expectations. The involvement of international French exchange students further enhanced the interdisciplinary collaboration required for the success of this project. This project provides an invaluable opportunity for students to gain practical experience in project management, teamwork, and problem-solving, while contributing to global efforts towards carbon neutrality.