Dune Lakes Elementary School- Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Located along Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Dune Lakes Elementary School is Walton County School District's first ICF project. The school was designed to maximize natural light and sustainability, featuring expansive windows and skylights throughout its architecture to foster a bright “anytime learning” environment.

The building’s orientation and adoption of Insulated Concrete Forms optimizes energy efficiency and solar heat gain to reduce its electrical load by 50% compared to conventionally-built schools in the region.

The decision to use Nudura ICF blocks was driven by their superior thermal performance, durability and the manufacturer's technical support. The disaster-resilience of the ICF walls proved critical and ensured the structure withstood Hurricane Michael, which hit the region in 2018, while the building was still under construction. The building sustained just minor damage, and subsequent repairs only set the project back one week.

In the end, Dune Lakes Elementary School achieved its sustainability goals, and as an ICF school, will continue to stand as a safe haven and source of high-quality education for the community.