DLR Group facilitated a series of Sustainability Workshops to explore values related to key sustainability aspects of building design, construction, and operation in U.S. Virgin Islands Public Schools. Key goals and objectives included: 
​1. Evaluate sustainable design strategies and their impact on user experience and student outcomes.

2. Explore, categorize, and prioritize key sustainability and resiliency aspects of building design, construction, and operation.

3. Explore why sustainability and resiliency strategies are important to the U.S. Virgin Islands and how they support VIDE Guiding Principles.
The global conversation on Sustainability is evolving.
​It has moved beyond a resource conservation movement to include climate change, human health and well-being, resilience, regeneration, and eco-system integrity.​
Summary of Key Takeaways
The workshops were structured around the VALUES framework, an adaptable and scalable tool developed by DLR Group, to evaluate sustainable design strategies and their impact on user experience. The outcomes of these workshops informed the development of cost-effective, sustainable solutions for U.S. Virgin Islands Public Schools. 

​The workshops were held on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix on successive days (February 3, 4 and 5, 2020). Attendees included a broad cross-section of stakeholders and end users, including VIDE leadership, superintendents, principals, teacher union representatives, students, teachers, facilities staff, community members, local government officials, and V.I. Water and Power Authority representatives. 
Establishing design guidelines that enhance healthy, sustainable, performance-driven environments for learning.
While there was diversity in perspective, there were four themes that consistently rose to the forefront of importance:
Equity and Inclusion
​Almost all workshop participants spoke about the importance of equity and inclusion, and many stated that it should be the foundation for all other subsequent decisions. 

Resiliency and Systems
Resiliency, in all its permutations, including Community, Building and Emotional Resiliency, were VALUES that were consistently found in the top two or three categories with the greatest investment. 
Health and Comfort
Participants consistently prioritized VALUES that contribute to Health and Comfort, and some groups stated this was the most important factor in delivering a quality education. 

Resources
One additional theme that received a consistently high amount of investment was that of the need for flexible, adaptable, do-it-yourself spaces for expression, learning and play. Additionally, the need for a cohesive campus fabric and transparent spaces that promote inspiration and connections to occur between age groups and/or subjects, while improving security, were also highlighted.
A detailed summary of Sustainability and Resilience is outlined in the Educational Facility Master Plan. 
​Review the section on Sustainability and Resilience at the link below. 
04_vide_master_plan_20200629_sustainability.pdf
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