Entry With A Silver Lining

As the large metal cistern greets visitors to the rural campus of Boerne - Samuel V. Champion High School, it also collects rooftop run-off as well as condensate drainage from rooftop HVAC units. The cisterns along with 800 feet of 60" diameter stormwater piping will store an estimated 10.7 million gallons of harvested water annually. The water will be used to irrigate the entire campus landscaping, athletic and play fields. District officials are active in legislative discussions with state authorities to authorize the use of captured water for additional purposes. The system is expected to reduce the district's cost for water by 80 percent, saving $35,000 per year. The district expects to see a payback in 5 - 7 years.

The concept is being hailed as a model for other districts. Architects worked closely with the district facilities department and engineering consultants to develop the innovative concept. Careful consideration and site planning integrated the metal cisterns into the core architectural vocabulary of the campus. Students are constantly reminded of the fundamental sustainable concepts on which their high school was developed.