Completed in fall 2023, Blake ELC became the first fossil fuel-free, non-collegiate education building in Minnesota. Natural gas is relatively inexpensive in the Upper Midwest, Pielhop notes, so going all-electric wasn’t an obvious choice. He says having a more renewable grid is going to help the sustainability effort in the long term, as being connected to a cleaner grid gets them closer to decarbonization.

A geothermal field under the parking lot and a variable refrigerant flow system contribute to a 41% reduction in energy costs compared to the ASHRAE 90.1 2016 baseline. Radiant hydronic floors heat the building, providing warmth and comfort for children.

Primary ductwork for the all-electric building was routed underground, allowing a clear expression of the timber. Beams, rounded on the ends to form playful shapes, run on either side of the columns; the double-beam configuration allowed designers to tuck electrical and fire protection systems in between. Cloud-shaped acoustical panels fit the larger spaces between beams and hide mechanical systems. Interior beams and columns were made using southern yellow pine, while naturally-durable Alaska yellow cedar was used for beams that cantilever past perimeter wall columns to form exterior balconies and shade canopies.