South Region Elementary School #12 is a new comprehensive elementary school programmed to serve 800 students on a 3.95 acre site in Los Angeles. In addition to the program and educational requirements established for the project, the school district was looking for a design solution that capitalized on the opportunities afforded by a 800 student program, such as a 2 acre playground, while offering some of the advantages of an intimate-scale learning environment. The program provides 32 classrooms, contained in a three story building, as well as a library, multipurpose room, food service, lunch shelter, and administration office.
Given the requirement for an elementary school to serve a population of nearly 800 students on a site of 3.95 acres, the architect was presented with the task of maximizing the learning environment on a small site. The design responds to this situation by organizing the main building along 61st Street on the south and the multipurpose and food service along Hooper Avenue on the west. This site organization places the student drop off at the main entrance of the campus and provides the maximum cueing of vehicles along East 61st Street. The trash and service entrance is located off of 60th Street affording an ideal separation between the student drop off and the service entrance. Another key benefit to this site plan design is the multipurpose and food service buildings provide physical and visual protection to the play areas and help reduce vehicular noise generated by Hooper Avenue which serves as a main north-south corridor through the neighborhood.
Other design features include an articulated "lantern stair" that addresses the small gathering area at the corner of Hooper Avenue and 61st Street that acknowledges the existing park at the opposite corner of the street.
Awards: 2010 CASH/AIACC Leroy F. Greene Design Award of Excellence
Website: http://www.lausd.net
« Back to Portfolio