Thinking outside the box, LPA Inc. is designing a school inside a box. With an emphasis on three E’s—Engage, Educate, and Empower—e3 Civic High is now being constructed on the sixth and seventh floors of a public library in downtown San Diego. Library patrons will be able to see into the school via glass elevators, but will not have physical access to the school.
Learning studios at e3 have been organized in “villages” that are clustered around a shared commons and teaming rooms. To foster impromptu “collisions” of students, faculty, and staff, the design employs a number of strategic spaces:
• Entry – Deliberately leaving out an enclosed lobby and central administration area, visitors enter directly into the school.
• The Park – Supported by controllable lighting, soft furniture, and technology integration, this “living room” setting can also double as a studio space.
• The Plaza – An active gathering space for presentation, performance, and dining.
• Steps – The central staircase connecting the two floors doubles as a social learning space, a circulation route, studio, physical education area, and a place for industry speakers to engage with students.
• Interactive Wall – Linking the villages, the Interactive/Living Wall is a space that students can write on, post displays, or even sit on.
• Gallery – Lined with whiteboard surfaces and specialty lighting, the centrally located gallery provides a blank canvas for students to curate.
The project is tracking LEED Gold certification.
For more on the project, visit: http://blog.lpainc.com/lpa-blog/bid/95713/Urban-Education-The-story-behind-e3-Civic-High-Part-2.
Related Stories
| Aug 7, 2012
McCarthy tops out LEED Platinum-designed UCSD Health Sciences Biomedical Research Facility
New laboratory will enable UCSD to recruit and accommodate preeminent faculty.
| Aug 7, 2012
Pankow names Lum new CEO
Lum joined Pankow in 1980 in Hawaii and has held leadership roles in Pankow’s Honolulu and Northern California regional offices and was appointed president of the firm in 2009.
| Aug 7, 2012
Suffolk Construction builds new Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Construction management firm links history with the future by building museum using state-of-the-art virtual models and BIM technologies.
| Aug 7, 2012
Essex Builders to build church in Somerville, Mass.
The project’s design documents were prepared by Boston Bay Architects and reflect the church’s mission to serve the broader community as well as worship.
| Aug 6, 2012
Johnson Controls GWS appoints Genemaras as COO
Genemaras brings a wealth of experience in international business operations.
| Aug 6, 2012
Welton promoted to principal in Thornton Tomasetti’s Denver office
Welton serves as the manager of the firm’s Denver office and has more than 30 years of structural engineering experience across a range of project types including sports, commercial and residential.
| Aug 6, 2012
Kibby has joins the Harmon team
Kibby has over 24 years of experience in the glazing industry, coming to Harmon from Architectural Wall Systems where he worked in business development.
| Aug 3, 2012
Goettsch Partners opens new Abu Dhabi office
The GP Abu Dhabi office is managed by Steven M. Nilles, FAIA, LEED AP, a partner in the firm and resident of Abu Dhabi.
| Aug 3, 2012
Pinto promoted to VP in Thornton Tomasetti’s Philly office
Project experience includes commercial and residential buildings, government facilities, sports venues, airports and hotels.
| Aug 3, 2012
Nonres construction spending to increase through 2012, growth projected for 2013
Commercial and industrial projects poised to lead building sectors.