Integrated Arts Academy – Burlington, Vermont

Project Overview

Energy Efficient Investments (EEI) partnered with Burlington School District to modernize the Integrated Arts Academy (IAA), transforming a historic 1920s school building into a high-performance, 21st-century learning environment. The project represents a major investment in student comfort, sustainability, and long-term building performance while preserving the architectural character that defines the campus.

Work began in Spring 2024, with students temporarily relocated over the summer to allow for accelerated construction. Despite the challenges of retrofitting a nearly century-old facility, the EEI Vermont team successfully converted the building to a geothermal heating system and delivered critical upgrades in time for the start of the school year. The project remains on budget and on schedule, with full completion anticipated in Spring 2025 and students and staff returning to the fully renovated building in Fall 2025.

Design, Performance, and Preservation

A key focus of the project was eliminating the aging heating plant and outdated mechanical systems that contributed to excessive noise, poor acoustics, and inefficiencies throughout the building. New HVAC systems, ventilation, cooling, and heating were carefully integrated to improve indoor environmental quality while reducing energy use and operational costs.

In the 1904 classroom wing, EEI and the design team preserved the original ceiling heights and large historic windows to maintain natural daylight and architectural character. New acoustical ceilings dramatically improve sound quality for teaching and learning while concealing modern infrastructure, including updated sprinkler systems, power, technology, and ventilation. Select original tin ceilings were retained and preserved in prominent areas such as the main lobby corridor, reinforcing the historic identity of the building.

The 1965 classroom wing received similar acoustical and lighting improvements, replacing exposed roof decks that previously amplified noise. New window designs further enhance daylighting, creating brighter, healthier learning spaces across the campus.

Funded through Burlington School District’s 2017 10-Year Capital Plan and $10 million in ESSER funds, the Integrated Arts Academy project demonstrates how thoughtful design-build execution can balance sustainability, performance, schedule, and historic preservation.