Through projects such as new state-of-the-art replacements for Highland Springs and J.R. Tucker high schools and the creation of a high school specialty center dedicated to environmental studies, Henrico County Public Schools has positioned itself as a leader in environmental education as the world’s focus on sustainable practices has grown.
Now, on a historic tract of fields and forest in Varina, the school division is set to embark on its latest innovative environmental education project, one that sets a worldwide standard for sustainable practices and design in public education.
On Aug. 22, the Henrico School Board got a preview of plans for the new "living building" at Wilton Farm. Henrico voters approved funds for the project as part of the 2022 bond referendum, which passed with an 86% vote. The $16.3 million project, to be built near the James River in eastern Henrico County, will be part of HCPS’ Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability, based at Varina High School. The Wilton Farm campus will also be used regularly by students from across the division as well as by community members.
Construction of the 62-acre campus is slated to begin in summer 2025. Project managers expect the 11,000-square-foot building to open to students in December 2026, depending on the design plan, material availability and construction. Because the building’s footprint is in a small clearing, very few trees will be removed.
The building will be the first public school K-12 project in the world certified as a “Living Building Challenge” facility, and only the second Virginia building of any kind to attain that mark. Just 30 buildings worldwide have met the lofty environmental requirements administered by the International Living Future Institute, a nonprofit which advocates for construction in balance with the natural world.
The construction process will use repurposed materials where possible and will generate little landfill waste, according to project managers. Floors and paneling will include wood salvaged from gym floors that have been removed from HCPS schools.
The campus will use experiential learning to help prepare students for careers in the environmental sciences. Students will learn firsthand from the project’s sustainable features, which include:
Hands-on learning areas, including wetlands, forest, a lake, a creek, a pollinator garden and landscaping with native plants.
Solar panels that generate more energy than the building uses.
Captured rainwater — purified on-site — for drinking, cooking and restrooms.
An orchard, small farming areas and a new student-planted forest.
A small-scale wind turbine.
A small creek that will run beneath the elevated structure.
A green roof that will filter rainwater and help insulate the building.
Large windows in classrooms and a common area will provide natural light, passive heating in winter and sweeping views of the forest. The roof will extend to cover three outdoor learning areas.
Henrico County purchased 1,200 acres of the Wilton Farm property for $10 million in 2019, including 2.8 miles of riverfront. The site was a tobacco plantation in the 18th century and has centuries of Native American history. During the Revolutionary War, American troops led by the Marquis de Lafayette camped there. Except for agricultural uses, the property has been largely undisturbed since that time. Construction will proceed with consideration for preserving the property’s rich history.
Design firm Perkins&Will worked with HCPS to create the project plans.