ORD International School

Buildings account for nearly half of global greenhouse gas emissions, significantly contributing to climate change, with conditions expected to worsen in the coming years. While sustainable development has been a prominent topic of discussion for decades, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise steadily. Team Archons, comprising twelve undergraduate students and one postgraduate student from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, explored the influence of education on people's lifestyles. Schools have the potential to drive long-term shifts in attitudes and behaviors. Our vision was to design a building whose impact extends far beyond its physical structure, leveraging the transformative power of architecture to foster a more sustainable future. For us, the hallmark of a truly sustainable school lies in the quality of its learning environment. Thoughtfully designed physical spaces can subtly shape how students think and engage with the world. Our primary goal was to create a net-positive energy building. While net-zero energy buildings only mitigate a fraction of the issue, net-positive buildings adopt a more expansive, regenerative approach. These structures generate more energy than they consume, contributing positively to ecological systems. Our objective was to design a building that minimizes consumption, reduces its environmental footprint, and actively generates surplus energy, adding long-term value to both its users and the environment.