February 16, 2012 (Sacramento):  Recycled glass countertops. Decorating finishes made from salvaged wood. Polished concrete floors. Water-wise landscape.

These may seem like the design elements of a hip new restaurant. Instead, they are the environmentally friendly features of The Met Sacramento High School, Sacramento City Unified School District’s “greenest” campus, which recently reopened for students after a $7 million facelift.

The renovations include a new science lab, new recording studio, new art facility, new bike storage facility and a new staff shower for employees who bike to work. Green highlights include energy efficient lighting and HVAC systems, quiet classroom technologies, water-wise plumbing and irrigation and interior finishes made from salvaged Sacramento High School gym bleachers.

The work was funded by Measure I school construction bonds, which were approved by voters in 2002.

To celebrate its reopening, The Met’s students, families, teachers and staff are holding a “Renovation Celebration” at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The festivities will include tours of the school, live music and food. The Met is located at 810 V St., across from Southside Park.

Because of its many green features, The Met is the first SCUSD campus to meet the Collaborative for High Performance Schools’ criteria which puts the district in line for approximately $390,000 in state “green” incentive funds. The facility is also on track to qualify for the US Green Building Council, LEED for Schools Silver level rating. 

“We are proud to provide this healthy, sustainable learning environment for our students,” said Superintendent Jonathan Raymond. “Greening our schools will save us energy costs, give our kids healthier places to learn and prepare our students for future jobs in a green economy.”

The Met is Sacramento’s only Big Picture Learning high school, meaning it is part of an international network of schools dedicated to bringing real world experiences to students through internships and mentorships.

Met graduates Abel Guerra and Shauna Badaker, in fact, were involved in the renovation project via their internships with the architecture firm SKW and Turner Construction. Met graduate Luis Salgado, and current students Irma Medina and Austin Mills have assisted with the renovation through their internships at SCUSD Capital Asset Management Services.

“The Met is a perfect place to start our work to green the entire district because The Met is a school dedicated to innovation and tearing down the walls that separate students and learning from the real world and the larger community,” Superintendent Raymond said.
                                                                                                                                                                                
WHAT:                 The Met Renovation Celebration
WHEN:                11 a.m. on Saturday, February 18
WHERE:              The Met Sacramento High School
                              810 V St., Sacramento, CA 95818