The Sheward Partnership was commissioned by Be Amazing, LLC to design an 8,700 SF childcare center as a franchise of the Goddard School (GSI). The client was interested in a contemporary update of Goddard’s prototype design with a focus on sustainability. As a component of our design, which introduces a light-filled central corridor providing borrowed light into the classrooms, we pursued and achieved LEED Gold certification. The project relies on a highly insulated, air tight envelope that maximizes gains and minimizes losses. The resilient envelope was rigorously modeled to examine how each component could be best used to manage climatic conditions and avoid any potential indoor air quality issues. Key energy efficiency and comfort strategies include triple pane windows, full sub-slab insulation, R-60 roof, R-42 walls, high efficiency energy recovery ventilation, a variable refrigerant flow heating and cooling system, and a daylight harvesting system. The building will be net zero energy ready and has enough roof area for a PV system that can provide all the electric energy used by the building each year.