The new Whitmore Lake High School has made "green" history among Michigan schools. The school is only the second K-12 education project in Michigan to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The 151,000-square-foot school was registered with the USGBC in September 2006, and received notification of the silver designation on August 28. The certification reflects a deep commitment from the district, community and design-construction team to create a building that incorporates the principles of environmentally friendly sustainable design.

Specific features of the new school that helped to achieve the points necessary for LEED silver certification include: a geothermal heating and cooling system and extensive energy recovery units; waterless urinals and metered faucets (reducing water consumption by about 20 percent); use of linoleum and other biodegradable materials throughout the building; use of locally produced products (within a 500-mile radius); 84-percent construction waste recycling; use of recycled products; and use of "green" cleaning products throughout the building.

A special element of the site is the "outdoor classroom," a teaching area located on a peninsula of a newly created large pond on school grounds. The pond serves several other purposes: as a storm water detention basin; a component of the ground source geothermal system; a reservoir for the school's fire protection system; and providing a new habitat for local wildlife. Custom signage on the peninsula identifies notable sustainable features.

Many other project initiatives were relatively simple to institute, including indoor air quality, construction waste reduction, energy efficiency, and site considerations. The relocation of a historic farmhouse on the property, however, required considerably more effort.

TMP Associates, Inc. was the architect for the new school with Ann Arbor-based Mitchell & Mouat Architects as associate architects. Barton Malow, of Southfield, was the construction manager for the project.

TMP, established in 1959, has offices in Bloomfield Hills, Portage, and Columbus, Ohio. The firm serves a variety of clients including K-12 educational, municipal and college/university.