Allen County Primary Center

The Allen County Primary Center was programmed using a staff/user committee, led by the Assistant

Superintendent, and coordinated by G. Scott. The program describes a primary center for 1,200 students–the

State’s largest of that type. The challenge was to create a large facility to serve very small people without

intimidating them by sheer size. This was accomplished by keeping the scale to "kid" size, and even creating a

main circulation with a curve to eliminate long sight lines, as well as create continually changing views. Besides

its size and scale, the building is significant because it is a geothermal HVAC system, with over 300 wells serving

the facility. The bids came in $100,000 under the budget of $10.5 million for the 127,000 s.f. facility, including

geothermal, and work proceeded on schedule for opening in August.

Allen County Schools are located on one 156 acre campus in Scottsville, KY. Facilities on this site include the

Allen County Primary Center, Allen County Intermediate School, Allen County Middle School, Allen County High

School, Allen County Career and Technical Center, ACHS Fitness Facility, and the Allen County Board of

Education. These facilities are all served by geothermal heating and cooling. By using geothermal systems

throughout the school system the owner has lowered energy costs and reduced their carbon footprint.