Build Our Vision: The Campaign for the Washington Waldorf School

ur highest endeavor O must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives.

Rudolf Steiner

our p u r p o s e

The Washington Waldorf School (WWS) is at a key juncture in its nearly 50-year history. With a long-term lease for our Sangamore Road property in hand, the WWS community has an extraordinary opportunity to revitalize our home for the next 30 years. Significant improvements to our facilities will benefit our students, support enrollment, green our building footprint, and provide substantial savings in our operating budget. Expanded facilities will enable us to better meet the educational needs of our students,

and will respond to the growing interest in Waldorf education in greater Washington. Now is the time to embrace our role as a leader of Waldorf education in the region.

Our goal is to raise $4.4 million to secure WWS for the next generation of students. We invite you to join us in “Build Our Vision: The Campaign for the Washington Waldorf School.�

Waldorf students are encouraged to live with self-assurance, a reverence for life, and a sense of service.

E R NE S T B O Y E R

President, Carnegie Institute for the Advancement of Teaching, Former U.S. Commissioner of Education

our h i s t o r y

WWS is part of the worldwide Waldorf education movement founded by Austrian educator and philosopher Rudolf Steiner in 1919. Holistic in nature, Waldorf education is based on an understanding that intellectual flexibility, independent judgment, and moral courage are cornerstones of a child’s success as a creative human being. To nurture these characteristics, the Waldorf curriculum weaves mathematics, science, and writing together with movement, drawing, woodwork, handwork, music, storytelling, and rhythm. It balances academic, artistic, and practical activities to stimulate imagination and develop a lifelong sense of wonder and joy of learning.

The heart of the Waldorf approach is the belief that education is an art. Whether the subject is math, history or physics, the presentation must live— it must speak to the child’s experience. There are now 250 Waldorf schools in the U.S. and more than 1,000 worldwide.

Beginning with our founders, Clopper Almon, Gene and Esther Smith, Roberta van Schilfgaarde, and others, as well as our first teacher, Carl Hoffman, our school has been fortunate to have exceptional leadership and faculty. More than 44 years ago, these dedicated individuals succeeded in introducing Waldorf education to the Washington, D.C. region.

Today, four schools in the Baltimore-Washington area carry out our proud Waldorf tradition of developing the whole child — head, heart, and hands — for a lifetime of inspired learning and deep engagement with the world.

The Washington Waldorf School first opened its doors in 1969 in a church basement in Northwest DC with eleven families. In 1971, it moved to Hearst Hall on the National Cathedral grounds, and expanded to a pre-K through 8th grade school. In the fall of 1982, we moved to our current site on Sangamore Road with plans to develop a high school. In 1988, the high school graduated its first class of nine students.

WWS has achieved a solid record of success, graduating 25 high school classes to date, totaling more than 400 graduates. Our alumni are sought after by outstanding colleges and universities, and many have received substantial merit-based support.

Two of our recent high school graduates, from the Classes of 2004 and 2006, are Fulbright Scholars.

One alumna of the Class of 2008 recently received a Watson Fellowship.

Our alumni succeed in a wide range of careers, including business, education, engineering, development and planning, health and medicine, journalism, law, science, social and human services, technology, and visual and performing arts. WWS alumni are entrepreneurial, creative, and connected, with a strong desire to make a difference, engaging meaningfully in the world today.

our c o m m u n i t y

Our strength stems from our community: our strength stems from our community: our dedicated faculty and staff, our shared belief in the Waldorf development philosophy and curriculum, and the commitment of our parents, alumni, and parents of alumni. Together, our whole community supports the school through tireless volunteerism, financial support, and dedication to the vibrancy of our community.

In 2000, a dedicated and visionary parent, Carolyn Hodnett, bequeathed more than $1 million to a facilities fund for the Washington Waldorf School.

Her goal was for the school to have a long-term home.

Her bequest provides a solid foundation, and is funding the planning and permitting phase of the proposed building project.

Most recently, the generosity of our parents fulfilled our dreams of offering a healthy, organic lunch program to our student body; of constructing a new outdoor yurt to house our expanding Children’s Garden programs; of revitalizing our Children’s Garden

playground. These recent achievements—in addition to many others over our more than 44-year history— are evidence that our community can be counted on to support and nurture the school as it expands to meet the needs of the students we serve.

our h o m e

Our vision is to transform our building into a lasting home that will serve our school community for the next generation of students and beyond. Our goal is to complete necessary building improvements that include sustainable building design features, and promote a beautiful and energy efficient learning environment.

Our building needs critical improvements to best serve our students over the next 30 years. Every element of the planned construction has been carefully considered to ensure that it improves the function and efficiency of our building, supports the needs of our students, and enhances the use of our ideally located, six-acre campus.

In the spring of 2012, the school reached an agreement with Montgomery County for a long-term lease of our current site. The lease requires several capital improvements according to a pre-established timeline, allowing for a sequence of five-year options up to a 30-year term. Completion of all proposed improvements, as negotiated with the county, will provide the full 30-year term. The fully executed lease agreement includes provisions that reimburse the school for these necessary capital improvements in the form of rent credits. These credits represent approximately $2.5 million over a 30-year period, based on projected costs of all required improvements noted in the lease.

Waldorf-educated children are happy, intelligent, adaptive, cooperative, and above all love their school and love learning.

J O S E P H C H ILTON P E A R C E

Author of The Magical Child

We have carefully tailored our goals to the requirements of the school and the interests of the community and to this end we have three core priorities: To complete essential infrastructure improvements and renovations, which improve the overall comfort, aesthetics, and energy efficiency of the existing building and classrooms;

our g o a l s

To construct a new main entrance hall, which provides a warm and welcoming space for our school community and visitors, and provides an immediate experience of the art of Waldorf education; and To pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) equivalent standards in our building renovation and design which demonstrates and deepens our school’s commitment to natural resource conservation and stewardship.

Our building was constructed in the 1950s and has not been substantially upgraded since then. Virtually all building systems have exceeded their design lifetimes.

In particular, the HVAC system and roof are in poor condition. As a result the learning environment for students is adversely affected: winter days are too cold; summer days are too hot; and students and faculty have to dodge buckets collecting water from leaks on rainy days. Our large, but inefficient windows are single-pane, and only add to the difficulty of maintaining a comfortable temperature in the classrooms. In addition, the school incurs substantial costs in paying for and maintaining inefficient, outdated systems.

The school’s existing main entrance is inadequate to accommodate students, parents, and visitors during morning drop-off, afternoon dismissal, and special events, especially during inclement weather. Parents and faculty vie for limited meeting space for casual and confidential conversations, too often settling for a meeting in the hallway. Our visitors must walk the length of the main hallway before they can see that they are in a Waldorf school with a unique approach to educating children.

Many years of discussion, development, design, and planning have brought us to this moment where we are primed to finally make necessary upgrades to our school. It has been a journey of reflection on our past difficulties and successes, renewal for the present, and optimistic anticipation for our future.

The planned improvements will result in new building systems that ensure the comfort, health, and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Essential pieces of the improvement and renovation plans will directly and immediately increase energy efficiency of our building, conserve water, improve indoor air quality, reduce operation and maintenance costs, and incorporate many sustainable design elements.

For these reasons, and because WWS places a high value on an individual’s relationship with the natural environment, we believe that it is important to pursue LEED-equivalent standards for this planned phase of construction.

In addition to helping us achieve our goals of improving our students’ educational experience, enhancing the experience of our parent families and visitors, and increasing the sustainable and efficient operation of our building, the proposed improvements are required for our 30-year lease agreement with Montgomery County.

our p l a n

In 2008, we retained engineering consultants who assessed the condition of the building and its systems and recommended improvements needed to support a 30-year lifespan. On the basis of this study and consultations with our community, we have determined that the following infrastructure and aesthetic improvements are required to best house our school:

Replace Existing Windows. We are fortunate that our building has so many windows, but the existing windows are single-pane and very inefficient.

Replacing these existing windows with insulated double-pane windows will improve overall energy efficiency, and is necessary for the operating efficiency of the new HVAC system. The new windows will still allow for natural ventilation and light.

Replace HVAC System. This cost includes removing the original 1950s boiler and existing heating and A/C units in each classroom and replacing them with a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system. A new, high efficiency system will provide long term operating cost savings, and will provide a vastly improved and quieter space for learning.

Upgrade Electrical Systems. Essential upgrades to our electrical system will increase the overall electrical supply and ensure safe and efficient operation of our electrical systems.

Install New Roof. This new “cool� roof will be highly solar reflective and insulated, lowering heating and cooling costs, and eliminating chronic water and air leaks.

Upgrade Lighting Systems, Fire Safety Systems, and Replace Existing Ceilings. Most of the existing light fixtures are original to the building. They are inefficient, and it is difficult to find replacement bulbs.

Replacing all light fixtures with energy efficient upgrades is a prudent and basic upgrade. Installing new fire alarm and sprinkler systems will greatly improve our life-safety systems. This work will result in the removal and replacement of all existing ceiling tile.

Add Main Entry Hall. The new entrance hall will offer a natural light-filled welcoming lobby for our students, families, and visitors. It will include seating space for casual conversations, and a gallery space to showcase our students’ artwork. In addition, the new entrance space will provide a redesigned reception area and administrative office suite, a new faculty lounge and work space, and two new tutoring rooms, as well as one ADA (the Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant restroom. This addition will not only provide a welcoming aesthetic experience that projects the essence of the Washington Waldorf School, it will also provide much needed work space for faculty and staff, additional meeting space, and dedicated learning space for students who need academic support.

Taken together, these infrastructure and aesthetic improvements will make a significant difference in the life of the school and our students. They will make the building more attractive, comfortable, functional, and energy efficient, and will save us money, reduce the need for repairs, and reduce our environmental footprint. Furthermore, the installation of an insulated

roof, double-pane windows, and energy efficient lighting is estimated to save up to $50,000 per year in energy costs. This plan reflects the values of our school community; it is essential, and is a centerpiece of our plan for the future.

For a subsequent phase, we envision adding a new gymnasium which will attract and retain middle school and high school students; augment the movement curriculum, a key foundation of Waldorf education throughout the grades for all students; and enhance our athletic programs. The gym will provide a community center where we can celebrate the achievements of our students and alumni, and sponsor events for donors, educators, and friends of the school.

This new building will feature a high school regulationsized basketball court, bleachers, appropriate stage lighting, and a public address system. The gym will be located on a portion of the lower school playground, with a connecting structure to the high school that includes locker rooms, utilities, storage space, and

three new staff offices. Plans include installation of solar voltaic panels on the south facing roof, and a green roof for the “connector.� The gym is planned to achieve LEED certification.

To exercise the first two five-year options, as specified in the lease, we must first complete the renovation of our existing building, including replacing the roof, HVAC system, and windows, and upgrading utilities.

Build

our Vision

IS A $4.4 MILLION C AMPAIGN THAT WILL ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING IMPROVEMENTS AND BENEFITS:

Benefits

our c a m pa i g n

Improvements

• Improved learning environment

HVAC

1,100,000

Roof

460,000

• Energy Efficienc y

Electrical Systems

260,000

• I mproved lighting, temperature control,

Fire Alarm & Sprinkler System

210,000

Lighting, Ceilings & Finishes

480,000

Window Replacement

560,000

General Requirements

440,000

Infrastructure Subtotal

$ 3,510,000

Main Entrance Addition

440,000

Contingency

450,000

TOTAL Construction COST *

$ 4,400,000

ventilation, and indoor air quality • D ramatic reductions in operating and maintenance costs • W elcoming Entrance Hall that better reflects the best qualities and aspirations of our school • I mproved outreach • I ncreased Enrollment and Retention

* Construction costs represented here are professional estimates based on project specifications. The soft costs of Architect/Engineering/Legal work are in addition to this total and are currently being funded by the $1 million Hodnett bequest.

Table of Gifts Needed Raising $4.4 million will require a combination of exceptional leadership by major donors, as well as broad-based support from the entire community, as the following Gift Table demonstrates:

Cumulative # of Gifts gift amount Total Total

1

$1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000

1

500,000

500,000

1,500,000

4

250,000

1,000,000

2,500,000

8

100,000

800,000

3,000,000

10

50,000

500,000

3,800,000

15

25,000

375,000

4,175,000

225,000

4,400,000

Many

< 25,000

TOTALS $4,400,000 $4,400,000

The heart of the Waldorf method is the conviction that education is an artâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it must speak to the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience.

To educate the whole child, his heart, and will must be reached as well as his mind. rudolf Steiner

It is inspiring to consider the sacrifice and hard work of our founders, teachers, and literally hundreds of parents over the years that have made our school into what it is today.

our v i s i o n

They saw not only a wonderful place for their own children, but also a promise for the future. They knew that WWS has something valuable and essential to offer for a better world. Because so many put love, labor, and life savings into the school then, our children have what they have nowâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; and what we build now will feed the minds, souls, and bodies of generations yet to come.

We wish to thank each of you who have contributed ideas, time, expertise, and money to make the present and future look so promising.

This campaign represents the next chapter in the Washington Waldorf Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remarkable journey.

By improving our existing building and creating a new main entry, this campaign to raise $4.4 million by 2015 for capital improvements represents a major step forward in the growth of our school. This project is the foundation of our new long-term lease

agreement with Montgomery County, and also the most cost-efficient approach to construction.

Financially, the school is strong and stable, and ready to take on this challenge. Our tuition is among the lowest of any peer independent school in the area, and has remained consistent in recent years with only modest year-to-year increases. We offer financial aid to more of our families than peer schools in the region.

In addition, at 19.6% of total gross tuition, our financial aid makes up a larger portion of our budget. Through the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fundraising program, especially the annual giving campaign, the school adds approximately $1,000 per student to revenues available for the education of each WWS student. WWS has a long record of carefully balanced budgets, and we have a current working reserve of $1 million for design development and project soft costs.

WALDORF SCHOOL PROJECT NO:

1.6

1.4

1.3

CURVED WOOD CANOPY FASCIA

NEW ENTRY CONSTRUCTION ALUM CLERESTORY

NEW ENTRY CONSTRUCTION

Washington Waldorf School 4800 SANGAMORE RD BETHESDA, MD 20816

EXISTING BUILDING

WD GLULAM BEAMS

60' - 7 1/4"

GENERAL DRAWING NOTES

30% CONSTRUCTION 26' - 1" 8' - 6" DOCUMENTS 8/9/13 A1.202

WOOD VENEER PANELS

MARK

DATE

26' - 0 1/4" 1.

INFORMATION SHOWN ON DRAWINGS PERTAINING TO EXISTING CONDITION FROM GENERAL FIELD OBSERVATIONS AND MAY NOT INDICATE ACTUAL OR CONDITIONS IN DETAIL OR DIMENSION. THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE ACTUAL EXISTING CONDITIONS PRIOR TO DEMOLITION, FABRICATION, OR P WORK. SHOULD CONDITIONS BE DISCOVERED THAT PREVENT EXECUTION O INDICATED, THE CONTRACTOR SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE ARCHITEC AWAIT DIRECTION BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE WORK.

2.

PROVIDE PROTECTION AT ALL EXISTING CONDITIONS TO REMAIN DURING C

3.

DO NOT SCALE DRAWINGS.

4.

DIMENSIONS ARE FROM FINISH FACE TO FINISH FACE UNLESS OTHERWISE VERIFY DIMENSIONS AT ALL EXISTING CONDITIONS.

5.

OWNER WILL OCCUPY FACILITY DURING WORK. COORDINATE SCHEDULE W MAINTAIN FUNCTION OF THE FACILITY. MAINTAIN MEANS OF EGRESS OR PR MEANS OF EGRESS TO COMPLY WITH LOCAL CODES. SEE SHEET G1.003 CO

6.

SEE CIVIL, STRUCTURAL, MECHANICAL, AND ELECTRICAL DRAWINGS FOR A INFORMATION ON WORK. COORDINATE.

7.

PATCH AND REPAIR ALL EXISTING FINISHES DAMAGED OR DISTRUPTED BY CONTINOUS FINISH AND ENCLOSURE OF BUILDING MATERIALS.

8.

SEE SPECIFICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION ALTERNATES.

DESCRIPTION C3

LOBBY ROOF 301' - 8"

ALUMINUM COPING WOOD VENEER FASCIA PANELS

8TH GRADE LS108 873 SF

EXIST ENTRY ROOF 297' - 8"

THERMALLY BROKEN ALUMINUM WINDOWS AT EXIST OPENING, TYP

7TH GRADE LS107 863 SF

PATCH EXTERIOR MASONRY WALL WHERE MECH GRILLE REMOVED, FACE BRICK TO MATCH EXISTING, TYP

DWG FILE: DRAWN BY: Author CHECKED BY: Checker

EXTERIOR5TH ELEVATIONS

1

EXISTING BRICK

A1.202 A1

A1.211

CORRIDOR C104

SHEET

OF

1 A1.303

143' - 4 1/2"

142' - 11 3/4"

INSULATED ALUMINUM WINDOWS STEEL CONNECTIONS

6TH GRADE LS106 793 SF

GRADE LS105 781 SF

A1.303 EXIST FIRST FLOOR 287' - 8"

NUM WINDOW

B1

4TH GRADE LS104 781 SF

A1.202

3RD GRADE LS103 791 SF

exterior elevation - entry 127' - 1" 32' - 11"

32' - 11 1/2"

27' - 7 1/4"

21' - 10 1/2"

D1

32' - 5 1/4"

LIBRARY STACKS F121

ART HS104 804 SF

GIRLS F117

OFFICE S116

OFFICE S118

MATHEMATICS HS103 811 SF

HUMANITIES 2 HS102 812 SF

HUMANITIES 1 HS101 668 SF

LOUNGE F119

BOYS F118

WEST STAIR ST101

MUSIC HS105 802 SF B4 A1.401

C1 A1.302

CORRIDOR C103

9.3

KITCHEN F116 STAGE A102 779 SF

ADA TOILET OFFICE OFFICE F103 S110 S109

AUDITORIUM A101 1887 SF

OFFICE S114

VESTIBULE C101 LOBBY C102

WC F123 STORAGE F112

RAMP

ELECT F111

OFFICE S119

-3' - 4"

WC F124 TRANSFORMER 17' - 7 3/4" 56' - 4 1/2"

11' - 1 1/4"

33' - 0 1/4" 7' - 2"

22' - 10 1/4"

51' - 11 1/2"

UP

107' - 10"

THERMALLY BROKEN ALUMINUM WINDOWS AT EXIST OPENING, TYP PATCH EXTERIOR MASONRY WALL WHERE MECH GRILLE REMOVED, FACE BRICK TO MATCH EXISTING, TYP

SHED (N.I.C.)

UP

58' - 9"

C1

A1 A1.302

UP

C3 A1.401

A1.201 DUMPSTERS

A1

CORRIDOR C105 B3 A1.401 KILN DUCT

29' - 6 1/4"

A1.201 B1

EXISTING TRAILER

CHILDREN'S GARDEN CG101 1175 SF WC CG102

CHILDREN'S GARDEN CG105 828 SF

57' - 5 1/4"

27' - 7 1/2"

WAITING F101

RECEPTION S101

SICK F102

STORAGE ADA TUTORTUTOR F114 TOILETUTILITYF105 F104 F106 F109 CLOSET FACULTY F115 S108 UTILITY F110

A1 A1.401

UP

OFFICE S102

TOILET F113

OFFICE S113

39' - 0"

6' - 0" 20' - 7 1/2"

LIBRARY F120

EA

OFFICE S103

OFFICE S106

BOYS F107

CLOSET S112

OFFICE S104

OFFICE S105

GIRLS F108

OFFICE S111

OFFICE S115 A1.202 C2

A1 A1.111

A4 A1.401

SHED (N.I.C.)

24' - 11 1/2"

C4 A1.401

27' - 3 1/4"

SHED (N.I.C.)

UP

OFFICE S117 UP

THERMALLY BROKEN ALUMINUM WINDOWS AT EXIST OPENING, TYP 7' - 9 1/4" PATCH EXTERIOR MASONRY WALL WHERE MECH GRILLE REMOVED, FACE BRICK TO MATCH EXISTING, TYP

A1 A1.302

16' - 1 1/2"

EXISTING TRAILER

2ND GRADE LS102 794 SF

1ST GRADE LS101 787 SF

A1.201

34' - 4 1/4"

15' - 9 1/2"

FLOOR PL AN - FIRST FLOOR

8' - 4"

34' - 8 1/4"

SOUTH STAIR ST102 18' - 4 1/4"

25' - 11 1/4" B3 A1.201

A1 1/16" = 1'-0"

P1 FIRST FLOOR PLAN

WC CG104

CHILDREN'S GARDEN CG103 1174 SF

EURYTHMY G101 901 SF

DN

A1.102

64' - 0 3/4"

33' - 7 1/4"

40' - 8 3/4"

8' - 3"

13' - 8"

82' - 1"

7' - 8"

12' - 10"

41' - 4 1/4"

47' - 7 1/2" 21' - 1 1/2"

59' - 0 3/4"

VATION

20850

1.1

8' - 7 1/4"

XISTING UILDING

1.7

27' - 0 3/4"

1.9 1.8

32' - 10 1/2"

UP

A1.201

B1 A1.302

Only as a child’s awareness and reverence for the wholeness of life are developed can his humanity to his own kind reach its full development.

R ach e l C ars o n

Edge of the Sea

Many of the necessary pieces are already in place.

We have a fully executed long-term lease agreement with Montgomery County. We have strong political support, and have worked with our neighbors to gain their support. We have zoning approval for our proposed improvements to the building and campus.

With significant input from our school community, our architectural and engineering design team at Cho Benn Holback and AMT Engineering has developed an environmentally sensitive design that reflects the school’s priorities. We have a strong and dedicated community, including parents, faculty, and alumni, and their families, committed to the promise of Waldorf education. We are ready to begin a phased construction effort as early as the 2nd quarter of 2014.

Standing together, the WWS community can accomplish something extraordinary for our children and the greater Waldorf community. Please join us in “Build Our Vision: The Campaign for the Washington Waldorf School.”

4 800 Sangam o r e R oad B e t he sda MD 20816

P 301 229 6107

F 301 229 9379

wa s h i n gt o n wa ldo rf.o rg