New and renovated spaces at Los Altos High School expand opportunities for learning and support student health and wellness. | Photo Credit (all): Tim Maloney, Technical Imagery Studios
By Aaron Jobson听
During the post-World War II population听boom,听school construction accelerated across the country听as听school systems swelled with new students. As many of these听1950s- and 60s-era听campuses听are now 60听to75 years听old,听they present school听districts听with听several听challenges.听听
Many听aging听school听facilities听are in need of听repair,听failing to听meet current building code and safety听standards,听and听requiring听significant investment.听Coinciding with this need,听the modern听approach to educational and community programs,听and听the听understanding of the impact of learning environment quality on educational outcomes听has changed听dramatically.听Older buildings may not provide the flexibility needed for next-generation learning,听or the daylight, ventilation,听and other features that support learning and听wellbeing.听This leaves many听districts听with听the complicated challenge of听deciding whether to modernize or replace existing campus buildings,听all while continuing to听operate听an active school.听听
For each school听facing these听challenges,听it is best to听start with a master-planning level analysis of modernization and replacement options. For each听option听it is important to consider a variety of parameters,听including:听
- Existing building conditions,听including needs for听code and听structural upgrades听
- Construction听budget听
- Schedule听and听phasing听
- Campus听operations听and听safety听during construction听
- Learning听environment听quality听听
- Community impact听
Taking this holistic view ensures that the available funding is used to provide maximum benefit to education.听听听
Looking at the听Long Term:听Los Altos High School听
In some cases, the best course of action is a combination of modernization and building replacement projects phased over听several听years. At Los Altos High School听in听California鈥檚听Silicon Valley,听a carefully planned sequence of projects over a听10-year听period听reimagined a legacy mid-century campus into a flexible, student-centered learning environment that supports academic innovation, student wellness, career technical education听(CTE),听athletics听and community engagement.听听
Guided by a comprehensive campus-planning strategy with multi-layered community engagement,听the听master plan strengthened the relationships between academic buildings, student-centered outdoor听spaces听and shared community resources.听Several听existing buildings that could continue to support the听school’s academic听programs听were renovated to update worn-out finishes and systems听鈥斕齛nd some听more extensively听to address code compliance听issues听and reconfigure learning environments to provide more flexible and modern spaces.听New facilities include a classroom building, CTE building, student services听center听and auxiliary gym.听Prioritizing flexibility and connections to the outdoors, these spaces expand听opportunities听for learning and support student health and wellness.听
The project was designed to achieve听a high level听of sustainability with major projects achieving LEED certification.听All-electric HVAC systems and an extensive solar array combine听to significantly lower the environmental footprint of the campus.听Careful project planning was听required听to听allow construction to continue in phases听while continuing operations of the school听with as little disruption as possible.听Together, these projects have听significantly transformed the campus into a high-performing, future-ready learning environment that directly supports student achievement,听wellness听and long-term听educational听goals.听
A Fresh Start:听Lake Elementary School听
There are also many听cases听where听it makes听the听most sense听to听completely听start听over. At听Lake Elementary School in San Pablo,听Ca.,听the buildings听were old and undersized and no longer supported the school鈥檚 educational programs or the needs of the surrounding community.听These challenges,听and the听cost of upgrading the existing听facilities,听resulted in听a plan for a two-phase replacement of the existing campus on the same site.听听听
The new elementary school听now听serves听470 students in听grades听transitional kindergarten (TK) through听grade six. A welcoming front entrance provides administrative services and library space that can also accommodate community events after school hours.听New听classrooms for听the first through third听grades听are housed within a听learning听suite; a concept听in which听each classroom opens to a large, shared听flexible space听to support a variety of teaching and learning approaches. A separate, similar听learning听suite听supports听students in grades听four through six.听Further, a听distinct听early-childhood education cluster provides dedicated learning environments听and outdoor gathering and play areas听for the听campus鈥櫶齳oungest students.听The multi-purpose building,听located听in the heart of the campus, provides food service, indoor听and听outdoor dining, and performance and gathering space.听听
Lake听Elementary School鈥檚听new campus was designed with significant input from the staff and community and features bright colors and听a strong sense听of identity to engage with the听community and foster pride.听听
Constructing the new campus while continuing to welcome students every day听required听careful planning and collaboration. The first phase of construction built the new administration,听library听and classrooms on the existing听fields,听leaving most of the existing buildings operational.听Following this completion,听the听project听team removed the remaining original buildings and constructed the new multi-purpose听room, early childhood classrooms,听playgrounds听and听athletic听fields in their place.听The end result听is a completely new campus that will serve the community many years into the future.听听听
Read more in the Design & Construction Issue of 糖心少女, available now.
Aaron Jobson is president and CEO of Quattrocchi Kwok Architects in Santa Rosa and Oakland, Ca., and Castle Rock,听Colo.听He听is a member of the 糖心少女 Editorial Advisory Board听and听can be reached at听[email protected].听