This facility will be certified under the U.S. Green Building Council?s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, which is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of sustainable ?green? buildings, and will be one of the first schools in the country to be awarded the USGBC?s new ?LEED for Schools? certification. Dohn Construction is in an elite group of general contractors with project managers who are accredited to build LEED certified green buildings.

?I applaud the Poudre School District for making sustainable practices an integral part of their operations,? said Doug Dohn, founder and president of Dohn Construction. ?We believe that sustainable building practices, especially for our children?s schools, help to contribute to a stronger and healthier community. We are proud to have the opportunity to work on projects like this that align with our values of responsible stewardship not only of natural resources, but also capital and human resources.?

?LEED for Schools? distinguishes K-12 schools that use 30-50% less energy than conventional schools, reduce harmful CO2 emissions by 40%, use 30% less water and have better lighting and temperature controls. LEED certified schools have proven to contribute to positive health benefits such as reduced instances of asthma, colds and flu, leading to lower levels of absenteeism, greater student and staff productivity and higher student achievement. The new Timnath Elementary School is a continuation of Poudre School District?s leadership as well as the district?s ongoing incorporation of sustainable practices.

According to Corky Bradley, AIA LEED AP project leader for the Timnath School at RB+B Architects, the fully day-lit 2-story building will use roughly 40 to 50% less energy to operate than a comparable ?traditional? school design. ?The building is full of energy-efficient features including building orientation, site design, day lighting, superior insulation, displacement air strategies, CO2 sensors to control ventilation and evaporative cooling,? says Bradley. ?The school will also use many recycled materials including carpet, tile and much more - all at a cost under budget.?

Doug and Connie Dohn founded Dohn Construction, Inc. in Fort Collins in 1992. Since its beginning nearly 15 years ago, the general contracting company has worked on numerous school projects, as well as hundreds of regional construction projects ranging from custom homes and specialty office space, to large community centers and expansive warehouse structures. To learn more about Dohn Construction, please visit www.dohnconstruction.com or contact Connie Dohn at 490-1855.