Red brick school building with a Special-Lite glass entrance, American flag, concrete steps, and a sign reading “Raymond Elementary School” on a grassy lawn. Featured in America ByDESIGN, this iconic school blends classic architecture with modern design elements.

Special-Lite Featured on America ByDESIGN, Showcasing Raymond Elementary School

Special-Lite is in the national spotlight as part of season 7 of America ByDESIGN™.

Part entertainment and part education, the series brings together projects from across the country with insight from leaders in architecture, interior design, and the broader design community.

Special-Lite appears in a segment featuring Raymond Elementary School in Washington, D.C., a project that demonstrates how historic architecture can be thoughtfully preserved while adapting a building to meet the needs of future generations while meeting sustainability goals.

Raymond Elementary appears alongside four other projects during episode 6, demonstrating different approaches to contemporary design.

Meeting Sustainability Challenges

The modernization and expansion of Raymond Elementary School balance the needs of a growing school community with ambitious sustainability goals and respect for the building’s original 1920s design. A new wing with a gymnasium, library, and classrooms was all part of this project.

With LEED Gold and Net Zero Energy certifications as a target, energy efficiency, and sustainability was integrated throughout the design.

SL-17 Pebble Grain Hybrid FRP Doors, SL-15 Wide Stile Monumental Aluminum Doors, and SL-19-1 Contemporary Wood Grain Hybrid FRP Doors were made to order for this project, bringing durability, energy efficiency, and style to this incredible project.

“Special-Lite was able to allow us to marry function, durability, and aesthetics together for custom doors created here in the United States,” Rachel Kenney, Associate Principal, STUDIOS Architecture, said.

“We also needed the doors to meet our envelope requirements as this project has high sustainability goals and needed to make sure we maintain them in terms of the energy efficiency targets,” she added.

More than 100 geothermal wells, solar canopies, and other energy-efficient building systems also help reduce energy demands while preserving the character and historical integrity of the original school.

Connecting With the Architectural Community

Special-Lite is proud to see Raymond Elementary and the role our products play in the project shared with a national design audience. Product selection contributes directly to a facility’s durability, performance, and long-term needs while supporting the overall architectural vision.

“We had a great relationship working with Special-Lite to deliver these doors and look forward to being able to do so on future projects here and beyond,” Kenney said.

Special-Lite values its relationships with architects and designers and the opportunity to help turn thoughtful design into sustainable, high-performing, lasting spaces. Our team can help navigate material selection, performance requirements, customization, and other project-specific considerations—even AIA Continuing Education opportunities. If Raymond Elementary inspires ideas for an upcoming project, connect with your local Special-Lite Representative or contact our team directly to discuss your design goals, explore product options, and find the right fit for your application.

How to Watch

America ByDESIGN airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS News, with additional viewing through the CBS News livestream and app. The series is also simulcast on platforms including Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, and Smart Healthy Green Living.

Missed the original broadcast? You can still watch it on demand. Full episodes are available to stream on ByDesign.Global, SHGLiving.com, and the SHGL App.

Episodes are also released on the ByDESIGN TV YouTube Channel, along with Extended Producer’s Cuts of select stories for an even closer look at the featured projects and the ideas behind them. Watch the Raymond Elementary segment featuring Special-Lite below.

wp_enqueue_script("jquery");