Project Profile: Radio Park Elementary School

Radio Park Elementary School was designed to meet the State College Area School District’s goal of providing collaborative education through incorporation of technology, flexible learning areas, and sustainability. Classrooms are organized as educational “houses” that facilitate quick movement and allow for small-group instruction, faculty support, and storage. The design of the building provides flexibility to accommodate the school’s growth and evolution over the next two decades.

Authorized Dealer Nexgen Automation installed a Reliable Controls building automation system during the construction and retrofit of this LEED Platinum–certified elementary school in Pennsylvania.

RC-WebView software operates on a central server in the State College Area School District office and is connected through Ethernet to Reliable Controls devices distributed throughout the Radio Park facility. The system controls mechanical equipment and regulates temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels in each classroom. RC-Archive software downloads building operation data, which facility managers examine using RC-Reporter software for insight into system efficiency and optimization. Nexgen used the flexibility of RC-Studio to configure the new building automation system.

Individual heat pumps are installed in each classroom, with dedicated energy recovery units that maximize CO₂ control and minimize energy consumption. A central plant maintains water at an optimal temperature.

Rooftop solar arrays supply 20 percent of the school’s electricity—just one of several factors that contributed to the building’s LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The facility conserves water with low-flow toilets, bathroom sinks, and kitchen fixtures that use sensors for automatic shut-off. The school remained functional during construction and renovation.

Reliable Controls and Nexgen were pleased to provide a building automation system Radio Park Elementary School can depend on to maintain a healthy learning environment for its young students.