Nonprofits Building Green
Community School of Music and Arts
THE KRESGE FOUNDATION
Made almost entirely out of poured concrete incorporating recycled fly ash, the building is practically maintenance free—reducing expenses and the use of harmful cleaning chemicals and “finishing” products like carpets and varnishes. The concrete also helps reduce the noise from a nearby highway overpass and results in excellent acoustics for the music students inside.
“As a nonprofit, we have a responsibility to support our students and to protect the natural environment.”
Angela McConnell Executive Director Community School of Music and Arts
The building is designed to take advantage of light from outside. Large north-facing windows flood visual arts classrooms with natural light, prized by artists. Use of natural light reduces the amount of energy required and makes a big dent in lighting expenses for the organization. Community School of Music and Arts also made a point of protecting the site it occupies by preserving a heritage tree found on the grounds, using the existing grade of the land, and following a plan to control erosion.
Since it was established, Community School of Music and Arts has worked to “foster a love of the creative arts” by providing education to people from 35 area communities—from preschoolers to senior citizens. Annually, CSMA reaches 30,000 people, including 10,000 children, through its art and music education programs at local public and private schools. The organization offers private music lessons and classes, clubs, camps, in-school programs, and community outreach events. Called affectionately “a blank canvas,” CSMA’s first permanent home is simple in structure and décor. The idea is to let students’ visual art and music embellish its halls and rooms. Though minimalist in appearance, most of the building’s features serve multiple purposes: helping the organization fulfill its mission, practice environmental stewardship, and save money. “As a nonprofit, we have a responsibility to support our students and to protect the natural environment,” said CSMA Executive Director Angela McConnell.
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While CSMA did not focus on achieving the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the organization did use LEED standards as a guide during the building’s planning, design, construction—and occupation. “We are proud of the commitment we’ve made,” said McConnell, describing her organization’s effort to make the greenest decisions possible on its tight budget. The whole project, from planning to completion, took five years. “Fundraising consumed the greatest amount of time,” said McConnell. But, she said, “we had tremendous community support.” During the four years of fundraising, McConnell reports, CSMA developed hundreds of new and loyal donors. In addition to support from private foundations, CSMA received a great deal of support from individuals with gifts ranging from ten dollars to $2 million.
A green building project can attract funders and other supporters interested in the environment.
Organizational facts • • • • • • • Focus: music and arts education Location: Mountain View, California Founded: 1968 Employees: 13 full-time staff, 14 part-time staff, 82 faculty People served: 30,000 students of all ages per year Annual budget: approximately $3.1 million Capital budget: $11.7 million
Green building features • Minimal disturbance of landscape; grade of land and heritage trees preserved • Erosion control plan • Drain inlets protected • Rock road constructed to prevent dirt tracking onto neighboring streets • Earth retained on site • Building footprint consolidated • Native plants in landscaping • Bubblers used instead of spray irrigation • Building orientation designed to capture maximum natural light • Economizing HVAC uses outside air and shuts down during off-peak hours • Concrete structure requires little maintenance and reduces cement use with recycled fly ash • Minimal use of carpet and other floor/wall finishers • Recycling program
Community School of Music and Arts found that by adding certain green features, it became eligible for grant money earmarked for green purposes. For example, the organization received a grant from a private foundation to install a courtyard garden featuring native plants that do not waste water resources. “It was really a collaboration,” said McConnell, speaking of the broad community support and guidance that helped make real the dream of a permanent home for CSMA. The new facility makes the most of this collective work, adding a major community asset without taking away what the environment had already provided.
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