West Contra Costa Unified School District
Master Plan, New Construction, & Transition Campus – 2012

SSA designed a new $19 million energy-efficient school replacing the outdated original Ford Elementary School in Richmond.

Engaging students and collaborating with the entire community is at the heart of design for a 21st Century learning environment. Designed to address the whole child, both body and mind, Ford Elementary creates a strong learning environment from a child’s point of view. This is a project that truly reflects the needs of the community while at the same time creating classroom spaces that reflect the best possible learning environment. Our approach to planning was reflected in core values of collaboration and consensus building. As a result we identified the vision, goals, and programmatic needs necessary to meet the District’s project objectives. The objectives that came forth from community engagement included that the school be a channel for a safer neighborhood; have a low impact on the built environment; contain a vibrant outdoor space that the community could share to offset the dearth of neighborhood open space, as well as project a school image that was representative of the cultural identity of the community. Resulting from this comprehensive process was a Master Plan that recognized the immediate, mid-term and long-range programmatic requirements of the service area and spoke to the community’s most pressing needs. The collaborative approach provided a strong foundation for decision-making and ultimately served to effectively construct the project.

Ford’s design is a modern interpretation of the Mission Style. The school’s framework, a repeating 30-foot grid, creates the flexibility for educational programming in the interior, and easily accommodates a variety of alternative teaching methodologies. The light-filled corridors, with articulated beams, double as a collaborative in-between area where learning can also take place. The second floor corridor, for example, is transformed into a street for the innovative learning required in the ‘MicroSociety’ educational program enabling students to recreate their own ‘society’ by becoming sellers of goods, electing officials and reducing crime. This enhanced learning opportunity optimizes career educational training at the middle and high school levels.

To meet security and safety objectives the following 21st Century technology and classroom upgrades were incorporated into the design: A two-pronged security system includes both closed-circuit TV surveillance using 70 cameras and a card reader that allows different levels of access at different times of day and evening. Doors can be automatically released or locked to allow for after-hours use of spaces without participants being able to access the rest of the school. New phone systems were specified including up-to-date technology, data and wireless communication. In addition, Ford Elementary was wired to receive over 100 channels with a bio-directional system that allows production and screening of school programming on five channels.

At Ford Elementary, materials are green and non-toxic and the classroom design maximizes fresh air; when needed there is displaced ventilation, which is quiet and clean as sound reduction was an important criteria. Insulation made from recycled blue jeans was incorporated into all the walls, helping to maintain an even temperature in the building throughout the day, improve classroom heating capabilities, and further reduce sound transmission. The outdoor environment was carefully laid out to maximize both security and play areas, and the plantings contribute to the outdoor curriculum. All class levels include active outdoor spaces as well as smaller, quieter and covered space to just sit and talk or rest. Native plants add greenery without increasing water consumption. Bioswales, landscaped trenches like small canals placed around the campus, are planted with native grasses that have deep root systems to filter carbon, gas and oil from storm water; the runoff from roofs and the parking lot are purified of toxins before reaching the sewer. The Bioswales and the ecologically planted garden are also educational components to demonstrate sustainability in action.

Ford Elementary received one of the highest sustainable (HPI) points in the State of California’s High Performance Incentive program from the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) for multiple energy-efficient systems.

The project is registered with CHPS, incorporates technology from LEED and is verified by DSA.

SSA also designed a “transitional campus” for Ford’s students, using DSA pre-checked portable buildings for the two-year period during which the old school was demolished and the new school constructed.

For more information on Ford:
School Construction News Article »
Office of Public School Construction »
MicroSociety News »
Sustainability at Ford »

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East Side Union High School District
Modernization and Master Plan – 2010

SSA worked closely with Yerba Buena High School administration and staff to plan and execute a 5-Phase modernization project.

Funded by local bond and state modernization resources, Yerba Buena High School’s five-phase modernization program sought to provide an innovative 21st Century educational environment to a dull, outdated 1960s campus. Conceptually, the key goal was to strategically modernize the buildings surrounding the campus’s central plaza, transforming it into a visual and social focal point. The creation of open spaces was a priority for promoting a casual and interactive environment among students and the community. Throughout the phases, strategic planning of all modernization activities meant minimal impact to educational and extracurricular programs.

Applying the principles of Universal Design, the physical space became adaptable and inclusive for specific needs and promotes a higher standard of learning. The creative application of spatial design, color and texture means that the classroom aesthetic reflects the District’s objective of “Achieving Success through Continuous Improvement”. The surroundings are attractive and distinctive, yet thematically work as a whole.

The phases which involved three campus buildings produced a renovated Science Building with twelve fully outfitted science labs / classrooms and a new computer center, and brought modernized classroom buildings with contemporary classrooms, state-of-the-art computer labs, an art room, faculty spaces, and a new attendance office. In addition, all support systems, including: structural, seismic, mechanical, electrical and technology were upgraded.

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Palo Alto, CA

Palo Alto Unified School District
New Construction/Modernization – 2000

SSA collaborated with HTI Architects on Palo Alto Unified School District’s school modernization effort. Walter Hays Elementary School underwent a selective modernization that included the reorganization of existing library space, the addition of new classrooms, reading rooms and computer centers, as well as the introduction of new sources of natural light.

SSA confronted the challenges of severe crowding and poor lighting at the existing Walter Hays Library by reorganizing underutilized spaces.

Incorporating a well-lighted courtyard and an adjacent storage room effectively solved both challenges. Along with new skylights, the courtyard provided an abundance of natural lighting and both additions provided ample space.

With input from staff, students and community, SSA installed an Audio-Visual center with computer cluster stations and a new sitting area. The new library is adjacent to surrounding classrooms so students can come directly into the library from class. This makes the new space a central feature of the campus, where a variety of activities are held. SSA added light, active and quiet rooms, and gave an entirely new focus to the building and the campus.

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Sequoia Union High School District
Modular Gym Design Build – 2009

SSA was faced with the challenging project of adding a new gymnasium to the campus. The budget was too small for conventional on-site construction methods, so it was decided by the client and architect to work with an experienced modular building manufacturer to design and build the new gymnasium. It was important that this large building, prominently sited at the front of?the campus, aesthetically blend with the other buildings and not dominate the site.

The strategic design solution determined the use of different materials and sloping surfaces to visually reduce the mass of the 8,400 Square foot box-shaped gymnasium. Parking was also an important issue and a necessity. The site was reconfigured to add parking, both accessible and regular, to the existing count. The site plan also provides for a beautifully designed and landscaped plaza at the gymnasium entrance which unifies the gym with the existing pool, and track and field below. The plaza utilizes simple patterns and textures in the pavement to create a pleasant gathering space for students. SSA worked very closely with the District staff to achieve a?balance between design, needs, wants and cost of the project.

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Palo Alto Unified School District
New construction/Modernization – 2000

As part of a district-wide school modernization effort, Building for Excellence, SSA collaborated with HTI Architects on several Palo Alto elementary schools. For the Escondido Elementary School main campus, originally constructed in 1960, the modernization program included seismic and ADA accessibility improvements, as well as updating the classroom environment. SSA designed new classroom buildings and outdoor recreation areas.

New technology upgrades included computer workstations and increased electrical capacity within the classrooms as well as energy upgrades that included new heating systems and lighting. The campus now has a new library facility as part of the Building for Excellence Program. Conversion and construction of the new library space occurred within an existing building; the library facility has reading and resource areas for students, as well as new computer workstations.

The new library is adjacent to surrounding classrooms so students can come directly into the library from class. This makes the new space a central feature of the campus where a variety of activities are held. The old library space was converted back into classroom, and a new classroom wing was constructed.

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Sequoia Union High School District
Performing Arts Center Design Competition – 2005

In 2005, the Sequoia Union High School District invited architectural firms to participate in a competition to design a new Performing Arts Center for Menlo-Atherton High School. SSA teamed with the internationally recognized architect Antoine Predock to embark on this endeavor.

Our participation in the competition represented an attempt to tackle the impending needs of the cultural side of the student body as well as integrate the natural and historical features of the surrounding area. Our team noted that the school valued its rich and prosperous art department, so our collective design goal was to not only emphasize the artistic traditions of the school, but also establish a deep connection with the students as an integral part of everyday life.

The site and building are crafted to invite participation from all directions. The trends, movement and social behavior of the school’s students were considered in the planning process. This ultimately created “The Day in the Life of A School,” a concept the jury grasped in our unique approach to understanding the conceptual context. At the presentation, the project architect for the client commented that the exterior planning, the integration of existing buildings, and the circulation of programs far exceeded their expectations. The existing 200-year-old oak trees served as a welcoming entrance to the facility.

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Scotts Valley, CA

Scotts Valley Unified School District
Campus Master Planning – 2014

Introduction
The Scotts Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) commissioned Sally Swanson Architects, Inc. (SSA) to undertake a Needs Assessment and Facilities Assessment and Master Plan as a part of the replacement Project for the Scotts Valley Middle School (SVMS). The existing facility is far beyond its useful life and is in need of replacement. The accompanying Facilities Needs, Facilities Assessment and the Master Plan frame the need and vision for the new facility.

Vision
The design of the campus is divided into three components at three levels that respond to the site’s natural topography and is marked by three entrances. The vision for SVMS involved the creation of a learning environment that reflects a 21st century model for education while incorporating the unique environs of the Santa Cruz mountains and seashore. This new integrated environment will be sustainable, incorporate technology and be constructed in a cost effective manner. The Master Plan offers a lot of breathing room: there is a flow of movement, student grade levels are housed together, and spaces meant to be shared by students and the community is knit together.

What can be achieved through implementing this vision is a campus that reflects the unique architectural environment and natural wonders of the City of Scotts Valley, incorporates their educational program, and supports their recreational needs.

Curriculum
The environment must reflect the curriculum. An outdoor campus reaching out to the great redwoods and clear air indicates a campus of singular architectural statements linked together by an outdoor pedestrian-accessible series of integrated plazas.

The basis for design is that each building reflects the grade level with core teaching and development spaces for group projects. Classrooms share a science and development core area. By providing outdoor learning areas with the required spatial analysis integrates the external environment with the educational process.

The Built Environment
A single large-scale building would not reflect the architectural context of Scotts Valley, so a series of buildings distinguish the site as an architectural feature of its own. The core pedestrian model provides a street that flows through the central site supplemented by elevators and ramps that lead students from Scotts Valley Drive to their classrooms. Performing Arts have been given priority as well as adjacency to the public entrance and parking. The Performing Arts Building can share seating space with the Multipurpose Building with its outdoor spaces that allow seating for performances as well. The Gymnasium faces the field for supervision.

The recreational area with its soccer and softball fields and combined track can be utilized by the students and the community. High priority was given to providing a field that supports the SVMS education and recreation program. 

Security
Security is a strong concern. The Administration building is the linchpin of the site where traffic enters.
The entry plaza is a flat component of the site adjacent to the recreational area. The siting of the Administration building is critical to controlling entry to the school campus and should be located in the central part of the campus to overlook all activities.

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Sausalito-Marin City School District
Master Plan – 2007

The Sausalito Marin City School District (SMCSD) commissioned Sally Swanson Architects Inc. (SSA) to develop a Master Plan.  The SMCSD school buildings had been neglected for many years due in part to long term deferred maintenance and other financial challenges that led to a low prioritization for facility funding needs. Capital funding had been insufficient to support this small school district where most of the buildings were well past their useful life. SSA developed a Master Plan that preserved the existing buildings that were structurally sound, replaced those buildings that could not be realistically repaired or modernized, and proposed new buildings that would provide additional educational opportunities for students.

The Master Plan was developed in support of the District’s educational plan, taking into consideration how the facilities needed to support programmatic changes occurring at the schools.

Through the development process of a Master Plan for Bayside Elementary School and Martin Luther King Jr. Middle Schools located in Marin County, SSA addressed a very unique set of issues pertaining to the surrounding community. Primarily, SSA was confronted with a very divisive community with polarized sides of economic status. Therefore SSA had to develop and implement a unique process to build consensus to move projects forward to construction.

The Master Planning process began with SSA facilitating meetings with the individual communities to determine the needs of each group.  This allowed all community members and user groups to speak freely about their needs. SSA then synthesized the information and directives gathered from the various communities into a draft program. After many iterations, we developed consensus on a program that represented the needs of all groups involved.

SSA also performed facilities assessments to determine if the structural, accessibility and infrastructural elements met current code requirements.

The Master Plan phased the rehabilitation of the existing buildings recognizing the operational imperative to minimize interruption to the educational program. It included exterior site improvements to school grounds, electrical/mechanical replacements, and interior renovations. Major renovations were focused in upgrading or creating new science labs, multi-media centers, libraries, and support facilities.

Site improvements reflected in the Master Plan included school grounds, sports fields, and recreational facilities. Sustainability, energy efficiency and security were also key drivers in the planning process and activities included lighting improvements and upgrades.  The Master Plan also recommended significant life safety improvements to the buildings including new fire alarm systems.

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Petaluma, CA

Marin County Office of Education
New Environmental Education and Conference Center – 1996

Walker Creek Ranch is an outdoor educational facility for students and other community organizations, run by the Marin County Office of Education. Its hands-on curriculum touches upon ecology, biology, and the relationship between people and the environment. As such SSA felt it was important to create a structure that was indigenous to its environment. Recalling a rustic farmhouse, the multi-use building proved to be programmatically challenging for its lack of one fixed program.

SSA ultimately saw this fluidity of use as a virtue, and responded with a grand, open interior featuring a full kitchen, massive flagstone fireplace, exposed wood beams, and stained-glass windows produced by local artisans. This well-used educational facility, regularly booked 7 days a week, received a Merit Award from the California Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH).

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La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District
Facilities Master Plan – 2006

Sally Swanson Architects, Inc. (SSA) was commissioned by the La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District (LHPUSD) to develop a Facilities Master Plan.  This District, although only 40 miles south of San Francisco, has a very rural character and serves only a few hundred students in the southwest region of San Mateo County. It has three schools including one elementary school, one high school and one K-8 school.

The plan established policies, procedures, standards and guidelines of architecture and landscape treatments as well as examining a broad range of modernization and new construction needs.  A part of an infrastructure study involved identifying solutions to flooding problems that occurred at two of its sites.

We also assisted the District in identifying a funding strategy to implement the Master Plan.  This was a multi-pronged approach involving pursuit of state funds as well as a local bond measure.  We worked closely with the Districts Financial Advisor to align the priorities in the Master Plan with the Districts bonding capacity and willingness to borrow.  Further, we worked closely with the district on their successful General Obligation bond campaign.

The development of the Master Plans was directed by the School Board and was prepared by SSA and its group of consultants. Our planning process was very inclusive and included outreach to the community in an effort to ensure their voices were heard, that the Master Plan truly reflected the needs of the community and ultimately to allow the elected Board of Education to know that this was a plan embraced by their constituents.

The final Master Plan took the form of a technical report containing recommended facility square footages, existing building assessments, standards and guidelines and cost estimates.

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