This 20 classroom addition to an existing K-8 site was designed to house the middle school students.  The building’s site was to back into a corner of an existing slope with a grade change of approximately 16 feet.  The grade change provided the opportunity to gain access at the first and second floors.  In addition, the site elevation difference aided in concealing the scale of the addition to the surrounding community.

The building design is an updated mission style architecture which follows the existing context of the campus and community.  Color and sculptural architectural elements are added layers that denote key functions and special nodes within the building.  The building’s configuration is a semi-U shape with a central courtyard surrounded by circulation paths.  The back sides of the two classroom wings tuck into the slope of the site.  Light wells were created with the required retaining walls to allow maximum natural light and ventilation to enter to the first floor classrooms.