Waipahu High School Resilient campus planning empowers students

Client State of Hawaii Department of Education
Location Waipahu, HI
Size 41,300 sq ft
Completion 2023
Program Classrooms, biotechnology, biology, chemistry and auto grow labs, hydroponics lanais, teaching kitchens
Sustainability DOE Pilot Project
Delivery Design-Bid-Build
Photographer Adam Taylor

In 2013, WRNS Studio was selected as Sustainability Advisor to the Hawai’i Department of Education (DOE)—the nation’s eighth largest school district, encompassing 255 schools, 3,872 buildings, and 44.6 million square feet of facilities. We developed guidelines to help the DOE achieve its ambitious goal of 90% renewable energy by 2040, aligning with the Hawai’i Clean Energy Initiative. Following this foundational work, WRNS Studio was invited to implement the DOE’s vision at Waipahu High School, one of the state’s largest schools.

A model for resilient campuses and hands-on learning

Waipahu High School offers six College and Career Ready pathways, from Arts and Communication to Health Services. As a pilot for the DOE’s sustainability program, the campus plan and design focus on outdoor learning, comfort, conservation, energy efficiency, stormwater management, and adaptability. A heat abatement study supports solutions for a cooler, more resilient campus.

The Integrated Academy Facility—designed as a “living building”—takes sustainability to the next level. Students engage in hands-on, project-based learning through features like biofiltration tanks, hydroponics, and visible feedback loops that integrate sustainability into daily life. This facility not only reinforces Waipahu’s educational mission but also showcases how schools can serve as living models for sustainable innovation.