Ernest S. McBride, Sr. High School has been acclaimed as an environmentally friendly and high-performing school. Throughout the design and construction of this campus, LPA’s team consistently focused on using green design to craft a true 21st century learning facility. As a result, McBride High has many features that address energy use, water management, indoor air quality and more—all to benefit the students and staff at Long Beach’s newest high school.
Many sustainable features have been incorporated into the design of the K-12 campus, including energy-efficient, central-plant HVAC coupled with building orientation and window locations that are refined to minimize heat gain—saving energy on cooling and heating. In addition, a 277-kilowatt rooftop grid-tied photovoltaic system is predicted to meet up to 60 percent of the estimated site energy use.
The 150,000-square-foot facility has received recognition by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) verified program. It also exceeds California Title 24 2008 standards by approximately 40 percent and the 2030 Challenge benchmark by 75 percent, well ahead of the current 2030 Commitment levels.
“Dr. Dre and I found it really hard to find kids whose education encompasses technology, the arts and innovation. So at USC, we’re creating a brand new program right here.” — JIMMY IOVINE, Founder
In 2013, Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young (aka Dr. Dre) wanted to share the secret of their success with incoming undergraduates at USC. With a generous donation and a vision, they inspired a new learning environment at the intersections of art/design, engineering/computer science, and business/venture management.
“I feel like this is the biggest, most exciting and probably the most important thing that I’ve done in my career.” — DR. DRE, Founder
The Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation is a new Roski School of Art & Design pioneer program located in the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. Steinberg renovated the fourth floor into a series of spaces that promote innovation and creativity, encourage student entrepreneurial spirit, and allow both students and staff to work collaboratively. The project includes a new suite for USC’s Undergraduate Student Affairs suite of offices, conference rooms, a computer lab, lobby and shared amenities, and the “Garage,” a 9,000 SF innovation lab, featuring:
- High-powered computer docking stations loaded with cutting-edge software used in all areas of design and in the entertainment and audio industries;
- A “pitch” room for teleconferencing and remote instruction;
- Two fabrication areas with sophisticated 3-D printers and scanners that allow students to print in high-definition plastics and powders;
- A workshop stocked with hand tools, power tools, electronics, and more;
- Two classrooms with flexible seating ranging from traditional desks and chairs to large beanbags;
- An expansive balcony with one of the most dynamic views on campus, overlooking the Tutor Campus Center courtyard.
“Today’s college students have a native technological understanding unlike any generation before, paired with an abiding passion for arts and culture. These traits, when nurtured, let them create in ways that have never been possible until now: building new and different products and technologies, transforming the culture economy and re-envisioning our world.” —Erica Muhl, Dean, USC USC Roski School of Art and Design, Executive Director, USC Iovine and Young Academy
By Uniting a Campus.
When it comes to kids, conditions matter. One of the oldest schools in Northern California, the Orchard School’s library in San Jose was dull, cramped and inefficient—a striking contrast to the shiny, modern vibe of its Silicon Valley neighbors. Outdated and overcrowded, it was important to create a facility that embodied academic excellence, promoted technology literacy and built community—all with environmental sensitivity. Capitalizing on the library’s centralized location, we designed a renovation and expansion plan for opposing elementary and middle school entries to the library—defining a space that acknowledges each group. We used a metallic composite-panel façade with zinc plate accents and abundant glass, giving the library exterior a striking aesthetic reflective of its position in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Inside, the dramatic full-height glass brings natural light deep into the expanded space. With the circulation desk installed in the center of the space, librarians are now able to survey students while greeting anyone coming and going. Dark instructional spaces were relocated to corners filled with natural light. The renovated existing space now houses stacks for the 18,000-volume collection, along with a new technology lab. Using the latest green design—a high-performance exterior building envelope, interior day lighting, natural ventilation, photovoltaic panels, upgraded mechanical systems, green-certified interior furnishings and finishes, water-saving plumbing fixtures, and careful siting and orientation to reduce solar heat gain—it’s now the first LEED Gold certified K-12 public school building in the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County.
Students and faculty at LAUSD’s Elementary School #9 felt like they hit the new-campus lottery when they showed up for the 2012/2013 school year.
Added to alleviate overcrowding at six other regional Los Angeles schools, the new K-5 campus welcomes over 650 mini-scholars daily within its 12,500sf multi-purpose building, 62,000sf classroom building and a variety of outdoor playground areas (source of much happy shouting). The design strategy is rooted in minimizing the building footprints, and upping the efficiency factor to gain playground space and minimize underutilized space. The project gets also bonus points for reducing traffic congestion, and the thumbs up from local parents for convenience.
Prudential Ltg. Wave2s provide direct/indirect classroom lighting. P3900 rounds report for duty throughout, indoors and out (installed under canopies in a low humidity region since they’re damp listed). P8600s brighten cafeteria and other utilitarian spaces.
The multi-tasking building west of the classrooms includes an 8,500sf cross-functional space, kitchen, staff lunchroom, and a (noisier, wigglier) covered outdoor lunch area. The landscaped intersecting space between the two buildings serves as the main entrance, with a multi-level covered bridge catering to the upper-floor classrooms.
Circular openings are repeated across the façade, incorporating an element of playfulness, while increasing security by opening sight lines from the upper outdoor decks to the playgrounds. Strategically located to frame views, the openings are staggered, giving every age group the perfect peek-out height.
In terms of sustainability, the project’s Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) target was 32 points, and the school exceeds Title 24 requirements by 15%. Building features are designed to maximize light and minimize heat from the California sun. Solatube skylights in restrooms and operable classroom windows provide natural light and fresh air circulation. Ground-level overhangs and upper-level sunshades as well as the flat ‘cool roof’ all minimize solar heat gain. Clerestory glazing enhances natural light in the lobby and common areas. And there’s ample shade for lunch tables and play fields, keeping kids and teachers comfier (read: happier) throughout the day.
The San Francisco Friends School opened its doors with a mission to foster academic excellence and educate children in Quaker values of social responsibility. So, it’s only fitting that when the school decided to expand into a larger space, it looked to reuse an existing structure instead of building from the ground up.
The school hired Pfau Long Architecture – a local firm with a commitment to sustainability – to remake the historic Levi Strauss & Co. factory into a center for learning. The firm won the business based on its innovative planning solutions, dedication to the more strictly green aspects of sustainability, and a hard-won spelling bee (just kidding on that last part, though the firm insists it would’ve been a fierce contender).
Given the school’s design-oriented curriculum and progressive educational philosophy, the architects wanted to provide a more inspired lighting scheme. ‘We tried to give them very energy-efficient lighting as well as a sense of drama,’ says Michael Webb of Revolver Design, the lighting design firm on the project.
Prudential Lighting fixtures effortlessly brought the designers’ vision to life. The fixtures were painted to complement the aesthetic of various spaces. Prudential’s classic P3930 luminaire was used to dramatic effect in the ground floor lobby as was the the company’s versatile Snap, with its new Round shape placed in the skylights of the large meeting room on the second floor.
While the children have made the space their own (cue band/orchestra, wall art and science projects), Pfau Long, Revolver and Prudential have created an efficient and amply lit building that has done its part in sustaining the heart of the school.
(but still, the ocean views get all the attention).
The Sage Hill School Science Building provides a cross-functional new facility for unifying existing science programs previously scattered in portables across campus. Its state-of-the-art learning spaces promote discovery through collaboration and classroom experiences. It fuels innovative teaching and expands the science program to benefit the greater community through partnerships with universities, non-profit organizations and industry leaders. Plus, its high elevation gets bonus points for offering students and faculty breathtaking views of Newport Beach and the sparkling Pacific beyond.
Designed with input from faculty, parents and industry professionals, the building layout creates spaces devoted to each scientific discipline – facilitating collaborative, project-based learning and introducing opportunities for real life problem-solving. The Title 24-friendly P46 direct/indirect from Prudential Lighting provides the ideal ceiling wash optic for the classrooms.
The learning spaces support both core curriculum and expanded offerings such as robotics, engineering, astronomy and artificial intelligence. And there is an emphasis on providing practical applications for cutting-edge science, preparing students to become innovators equipped to drive a high-tech economy. The design team was also able to identify and respond to the desire for expanding the Public Purpose and Service Learning mission, implementing science-oriented events and interactive opportunities benefiting the community.