Spiezle Wins International Design Competition for LEED Gold High School Campus in Mexico

Trenton, NJ – April 12, 2011 –Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that the firm has been selected as the winner of the International Design Competition for the Universidad de Monterrey High School Campus, a project that is being designed for LEED Gold certification.  This will be the first Mexican school of its type to pursue this level of certification.  Spiezle Architectural Group was selected over the competition due to our demonstrated strength in sustainable design and extensive high school portfolio.

In keeping with the doctrine of LEED, our design considers not only the obvious and necessary features of an educational institution, but also the creation of an atmosphere of wellness in an environment of great diversity, where the building of knowledge goes far beyond the classroom.  In response, we developed three basic design principles—respect, restoration and intervention.

 Respect for the inherent value of the natural features of the area, thus being a fundamental principle for developing the project, governing the harmony between design, function, and environment.
 Restoration of existing buildings minimizes the extraction of new resources, restoring environmental conditions which return its natural wealth through the introduction of native landscapes and stream restoration.
 Intervention for the efficient introduction of school life by maintaining a priority of needs and requirements of its students and faculty.

The new campus will include multiple educational buildings (both new and adaptive reuse), a parking garage, a chapel, and landscape environments to encourage both individual and group learning.

“Spiezle Architectural Group is extremely proud of being selected as the winner of the international design competition.  The differentiator from the competition was our demonstrated application of sustainable design woven throughout our architectural practice.  Each of our designs incorporates the principles of sustainability, even if the project is not seeking certification.  Our experience often allows us to design sustainable projects under traditional budgets,” stated Scott Spiezle, Chairman and CEO of Spiezle Architectural Group.

About Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc.
Founded in 1954, Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc. is an award-winning, full-service architecture, planning, and design firm with offices in Trenton, NJ; Media, PA; Spartanburg, SC; and Columbia, MD. Known for its international sustainable design, renewable energy expertise, highly effective design documentation, and project management, Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc. is an acknowledged leader in sustainable design of public and private facilities. To learn more about the firm, please visit our web site at http://www.spiezle.com.