The LPA Inc.-designed e3 Civic High School in San Diego is the first facility of its kind in the nation. Located inside a public library, the school combines a sustainable and creative learning environment for charter school students.
The school is located on the sixth and seventh floors of the library and embraces flexible school days, internship opportunities, and project-based learning.
Design highlights include a “living room” setting with flexible furniture; a central staircase that doubles as a social learning space; an interactive wall on which students can write and display projects; and a centrally-located gallery lined with whiteboard surfaces and specialty lighting where students can share their work.
The Building Team also included: LSW Engineers (MEP) and Acentech (A/V and acoustical).
Here is the project description from LPA, Inc.:
The LEED Gold certified, e3 Civic High-which stands for "Engage, Educate and Empower," is creatively co-located inside a downtown San Diego public library in a unique collaborative setting. While library patrons don't have access to the school, they can catch a glimpse inside the project-based educational environment as they ride a glass elevator through the building's sixth and seventh floors.
The transparent design and unique location, which capitalizes on the library's existing infrastructure, was chosen to foster team-based, experiential-learning opportunities with the help of movable glass walls, modular furniture, a demonstration kitchen, break-out learning spaces and a plaza area for assemblies and dining.
LPA also engaged the community in the design process through workshops, charettes, image sharing and building tours to help promote the school's partnership with the city and library foundation in linking education into the urban culture.
Related Stories
| Mar 5, 2012
Perkins Eastman pegs O’Donnell to lead K-12 practice
O’Donnell will continue the leadership and tradition of creative design established by firm Chairman and CEO Bradford Perkins FAIA, MRAIC, AICP in leading this market sector across the firm’s 13 offices domestically and internationally.
| Dec 27, 2011
USGBC’s Center for Green Schools releases Best of Green Schools 2011
Recipient schools and regions from across the nation - from K-12 to higher education - were recognized for a variety of sustainable, cost-cutting measures, including energy conservation, record numbers of LEED certified buildings and collaborative platforms and policies to green U.S. school infrastructure.
| Dec 5, 2011
RJM Construction begins building Nova Classical Academy in St. Paul
As the general contractor, RJM is constructing the 94,000-sf building that will consolidate the St. Paul school’s two other locations.
| Sep 23, 2011
Under 40 Leadership Summit
Building Design+Construction’s Under 40 Leadership Summit takes place October 26-28, 2011 Hotel at the Monteleone in New Orleans. Discounted hotel rate deadline: October 2, 2011.
| Sep 12, 2011
LACCD’s $6 billion BIM connection
The Los Angeles Community College District requires every design-build team in its massive modernization program to use BIM, but what they do with their 3D data after construction is completed may be the most important change to business as usual.
| Jul 22, 2011
Five award-winning modular innovations
The Modular Building Institute's 2011 Awards of Distinction highlight fresh ideas in manufactured construction projects.
| May 18, 2011
Former Bronx railyard redeveloped as shared education campus
Four schools find strength in numbers at the new 2,310-student Mott Haven Campus in New York City. The schools—three high schools and a K-4 elementary school—coexist on the 6.5-acre South Bronx campus, which was once a railyard.
| May 18, 2011
Eco-friendly San Antonio school combines history and sustainability
The 113,000-sf Rolling Meadows Elementary School in San Antonio is the Judson Independent School District’s first sustainable facility, with green features such as vented roofs for rainwater collection and regionally sourced materials.
| May 18, 2011
New Reform Jewish Independent school opens outside Boston
The Rashi School, one of only 17 Reform Jewish independent schools in North American and Israel, opened a new $30 million facility on a 166-acre campus shared with the Hebrew SeniorLife community on the Charles River in Dedham, Mass.
