MAINE COAST WALDORF HIGH SCHOOL

As the first certified Passive House high school in the United States, this institution is designed to cultivate creativity, inspire curiosity, promote environmental stewardship, and nurture the learning spirit within its students.

The nation's first certified Passive House high school is designed to cultivate creativity, inspire curiosity, demonstrate environmental stewardship, and honor the inherent learning spirit of its occupants.

Situated on a serene seventy-acre property in Freeport, Maine, this new 11,400 square foot high school building completes the campus, unifying students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Accommodating 80 students, the facility incorporates five flexible classrooms, a student center, conference and meeting rooms, faculty offices, and a multi-purpose great room suitable for movement, instruction, and morning assemblies.

The architectural design embodies Waldorf principles, emphasizing adaptability, ample natural illumination, the integration of color and natural materials, and anthroposophic design to create an organic, expressionistic environment that enhances sensory engagement. The articulation of simple volumes generates visual interest, optimizes views and shading, and improves natural lighting. The building's curvature reduces the length of common corridors while defining a central area for lockers and informal interaction. A timber-framed portico provides shade and protection from the elements, establishing an exterior space for teaching, dining, and conversation. Dormer windows in the roof introduce natural light into the building's central areas.

Energy conservation and sustainable design were fundamental to the development of this high school. The project surpassed net-zero energy demand goals by pursuing and achieving the highest available energy standard: Passive House certification, the first for a high school in the nation. In addition to PHIUS + 2015 certification from the Passive House Institute US, the building has earned Maine Advanced Buildings certification from Efficiency Maine, signifying an energy efficiency of at least 30% beyond Maine's minimum energy code requirements. This achievement was realized through passive solar design, robust building envelopes, efficient HVAC systems, daylighting controls, and strategic shading.

Hans Breaux of Project CO+OP served as the project designer, sustainability lead, and Certified Passive House Consultant, collaborating under the direction of the project architect, Harry Hepburn of BRIBURN.