Playa Vista Elementary Recognized With Green Building Award

Playa Vista Elementary was recognized for its eco-friendly building design Wednesday at the annual Los Angeles Architectural Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. 

The designers of the local elementary schools received the "Green Building" award from the Los Angeles Business Council for creating a project that focused on sustainability, educational technology and green-friendly technology, among other things. 

"Through a partnership with Playa Vista and Loyola Marymount, Playa Vista Elementary School  breaks the mold and demonstrates the possibilities of new technologies within the Los Angeles Unified School District," the official award description read. "The school is among the first LEED-rated schools in the district, and is the only one that has achieved Platinum certification." 

Among the school's many features that helped it win the award is a series of solar panels combined with a geothermal system that help generate energy for the school. The solar canopies also serve as a teaching tool for students at the school. 

Architecture firm Osborn Architects designed the project in conjunction with the Los Angeles Unified School District. 

According to organizers, the annual Los Angeles Architectural Awards recognize some of the best architecture projects in Los Angeles County over the past two calendar years.