As an historic landmark originally built in the 1920s, Washington D.C.’s Raymond Elementary School was more than ready for an update.

So after the decision was made to demolish a 1966 school wing and replace it with a 50,000 square-foot addition, Studios Architecture was tasked with meeting a long list of school board objectives.

The new building had to present a modern appearance while blending with into the local urban context. The district wanted to achieve net-zero and LEED Gold certification while preserving the school’s historic significance. And the façade materials had to be low maintenance and durable enough to withstand the cold D.C. weather.

Blending with the historic red brick cladding, the architects went with ALUCOBOND PLUS aluminum composite material in Olivine Metallic. Located above a new entry vestibule, the cladding encircles an angled high-performance curtainwall bringing daylight into the entry space. Metal cladding and glazed windows were designed for the addition’s northwest elevation, facing a new courtyard in the interior of the campus.

The muted green, metallic color, subtle sheen and textured surface presented by the thin vertical panels achieves that contemporary refresh the school was seeking. And the neutral color compliments the historic brick and blends with townhouses across the street.

The ACM supported an efficient installation, causing minimal disruption to the school, and delivers the required durability, longevity and low maintenance.

The cladding also supports a high-performance building envelope, which as key to meeting the project’s environmental goals. The product contains a high amount of recycled content, is 100% recyclable and its thermal performance keeps the building warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer with lower HVAC energy costs.

Other sustainable design strategies include more than 100 geothermal wells providing passive heating and cooling, rooftop photovoltaics and automatic shades that operate on solar power, energy-efficient lighting, controls and low-flow fixtures.

The new space features a newly built gymnasium, library and classrooms, and the glazing promotes daylighting and connections to the outdoors. The openness also promotes safety with high visibility between the addition and courtyard where the students congregate throughout the day.

The project bears the distinction of being one of the first net-zero projects of its type in the D.C. area. It won an American Institute of Architects’ DC Award of Excellence in Architecture award and an American Architecture Awards 2024 honorable mention.

The durable, low maintenance and energy-efficient metal cladding solution not only helped Raymond achieve its sustainability goals, but the sleek, textured Olivine Metallic finish reflects the light and shadows to create a dynamic, engaging entry point for the students, teachers, staff, parents and visitors.