Animo South Los Angeles High School by Brooks + Scarpa
02/07/2018.
[LA] USA
metalocus, JUDIT OTERO
metalocus, JUDIT OTERO
This new public school, located in one of the harshest areas of southern Los Angeles, aims to serve as an urban and social regenerator. The main difference with its neighboring schools is the absence of a perimeter fence of security, instead of it is committed to open spaces, displacing security to the finishing material of the enclosures, resistent to bullet impacts and with a height of 6m completely integrated with the project.
Yard's View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Yard's View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Yard's View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Yard's View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Yard's View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Yard's View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Yard's View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Yard's View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior View. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Facade detail. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Facade detail. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Facade detail. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Facade detail. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Facade detail. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Facade detail. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Facade detail. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Interior view. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Interior view. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Interior view. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior night view. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior night view. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Exterior night view. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Location map. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Axonometric. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Axonometric. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
First floor plan. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
North elevation. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
South elevation. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
West elevation. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
East elevation. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Section. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Enlarged section. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Technical plan. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Technical plan. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Technical elevations. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Technical sections. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Drawing of authors. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Drawing of authors. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
Rendering. Animo South Los Angeles High School. Courtesy of BROOKS + SCARPA
In this project, designed by Brooks + Scarpa, a particular and thoughtful use is given to the envelope of the building: inner courtyards are filled with light for external activities, directly connected with the activities within the classroom. Thus, fresh air and natural light is provided in a safe and controlled environment, in addition to providing the indoor classrooms with generous lighting and natural ventilation. Likewise, the panels of the façade are designed to give shade to the building, reduce noise, improve privacy and views and provide luminosity by the reflection of the sun on its surface.
Description of project by Brooks + Scarpa
Located in one of the toughest areas in South Central Los Angeles this new public charter high school for 630 students is visually open but entirely secured. The area was a central trouble spot during the 1964 Watts and the 1992 Rodney King Riots. Fair Housing and school busing has plagued the area since the early 60’s where median family income is less than $35,000/year and 25% of the population lives below the poverty level.
On July 22, 2014 a massive file broke out and destroyed half of the campus. This new replacement building contains eleven classrooms, two science labs, faculty lounge, new administrative and counseling offices and public courtyard space for student gatherings and activities.
South Los Angeles High School is a progressive, public charter high school known for its collaborative, curriculum and strong community connection. This building and addition to the 1950’s campus creates a flexible teaching environment that supports significant parental involvement and puts student life at the center of the school and unites the campus community.
Designed on an extremely limited budget and aggressive schedule, simple cost effective gestures were deployed in the use of cladding, fenestration, color and transparency to create a memorable sense of richness, providing a bright moment in an extremely tough inner city community.
Unlike most school that are enclosed by a property line security fence, the South Los Angeles High School building is surrounded by a 20 foot high perforated bullet resistant metal walls that are integrated into the building design. This creates light filled courtyards for outside activity that is connected directly to classroom activities. This arrangement of courtyard design allows the building to breathe fresh air and daylight while providing a safe and secure environment for leaning and social engagement. Open-air light-filled halls and classrooms, as well as the building transparency, express the school’s values and provide a healthy, sustainable learning environment.
The building form and primary courtyard are formed by a series of required clearances around an oil well abandoned in the late 1970’s, a series of power line and utility easements, height restrictions and zone changes running through the site that constrain the form and size to it’s maximum possible building area envelope.
The perforated anodized aluminum façade panels of the building creates an ever- changing screen that sparkles in the sun and glows at night, while simultaneously providing shade to cool the building, reducing noise, enhancing privacy, and still allowing for views, great natural light and ventilation which pass through its millions of perforations. The material reappears as a strategic arrangement of screens around the building, lending a subtle rhythm to the exterior circulation. The walls filter direct sunlight that lends unexpected visual depth while creating a sense of security for the occupants.
Enhancing the structure’s geometric texture, the irregular array of openings variably extrudes from the building’s surface. Its unique architectural form and integrated function creates a high-performing building that is an expression of the people who live there and the environmental and cultural context in which it is built.
More information
Architects
Location
11130 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90047, United States
Principal-in-Charge
Lawrence Scarpa, FAIA
Project Team
Angela Brooks, FAIA, Jeff Huber, AIA, Chinh Nguyen, Project Manager, Diane Thepkhounphithack, Micaela Danko, Eleftheria Stavridi, Arty Vartanyan, Fui Srivikorn
Associate Architect
Franco + Associates
Principal-in-Charge / Associate Architect
Arthur Fernandez
Project Manager / Associate Architect
Michele Stanghetti
Landscape Design
Brooks + Scarpa
Landscape Architect
Wynne Landscape Design
Area
18000.0 ft2
Project year
2015
Manufacturers
Bobrick, Johns Manville, LCN, Fleetwood, American Standard, Delta Light, GAF, McKeon, Milgard, Kohler, Solatube, C.R. Laurence, Bosch, CertainTeed, Chicago Faucets, Schlage, Grohe, Toto, Lutron, USG + 24
Angela Brooks, Lawrence Scarpa. Brooks + Scarpa
Brooks + Scarpa is a collective of architects, designers and creative thinkers dedicated to enhancing the human experience. Honored with the 2014 Smithsonian Cooper- Hewitt National Design Award, the firm is a multi-disciplinary practice.
Founded in 1991 as Pugh + Scarpa, the firm changed its name in 2010 to reflect the current leadership under Angela Brooks, FAIA and Lawrence Scarpa, FAIA. Today, Brooks + Scarpa is a 25 person interdisciplinary practice involved in rigorous design and research that yields innovative, iconic buildings and urban environments.
With more than one hundred significant national and international awards and thousands of publications awards include; the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award, National and State of California American Institute of Architects Firm Award, The Lifetime Achievement Award from AIA California Council and Interior Design Magazine, Architectural Record Houses, Architectural Record Interiors, The World Habitat Award and The Rudy Brunner Prize.
The firm’s work has been exhibited worldwide including venues such as The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, The National Building Museum, Portland Museum of Art, the Gwanju Bienale and has also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Founded in 1991 as Pugh + Scarpa, the firm changed its name in 2010 to reflect the current leadership under Angela Brooks, FAIA and Lawrence Scarpa, FAIA. Today, Brooks + Scarpa is a 25 person interdisciplinary practice involved in rigorous design and research that yields innovative, iconic buildings and urban environments.
With more than one hundred significant national and international awards and thousands of publications awards include; the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award, National and State of California American Institute of Architects Firm Award, The Lifetime Achievement Award from AIA California Council and Interior Design Magazine, Architectural Record Houses, Architectural Record Interiors, The World Habitat Award and The Rudy Brunner Prize.
The firm’s work has been exhibited worldwide including venues such as The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, The National Building Museum, Portland Museum of Art, the Gwanju Bienale and has also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
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