Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. (OAK) provided construction management services for the LEED-certified Neil Armstrong Elementary School in Port Charlotte.

The two-story, 112,000-square-foot building is one of three replacement schools built by OAK for Charlotte County Public Schools to replace those damaged beyond repair during Hurricane Charley.

LEED, short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings, issued through the U.S. Green Building Council.

At Neil Armstrong Elementary, OAK reduced landscape water consumption. Native plants that require less watering were incorporated into the design, and open spaces were created for possible student projects. Preferential parking was created for fuel-efficient vehicles.

Inside, the team used low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) emitting carpet and paint, installed smart boards in classrooms and maximized the use of natural light. Other features include low water flow sinks and toilets.

OAK’s project team consisted of job site superintendent Charlie Russell, assistant superintendent Vern Koch, project manager Frank Mullins and general superintendent Frank Bell. The LEED certification team leader was Jim Keohane, a principal at the firm of TLC Engineering.