Pre-K–12 Education
LAUSD’s Elementary School #9 Honored for Design Excellence
October 12th, 2012
On October 4, HMC was presented with an Award of Excellence from the AIA Inland California (AIAIC) chapter for the design of Elementary School (ES) #9 for Los Angeles Unified School District. The AIAIC awards program recognizes achievements for architectural works that elevate the quality of the architectural practice and design, and inform the public of the breath and value of the architectural practice.
L to R: Luis Hoyos, Cal Poly Pomona; Andrew Thompson, HMC; Gary McGavin, AIAIC; Evan Troxel, HMC
Designed to serve a growing community, ES #9 began with a simple goal: create an open, welcoming campus for students while maximizing convenience to parents and administration. The campus includes 26 classrooms in a new, three-story building, along with a library and administration offices. To promote 21st century teaching and learning, classrooms are designed to capitalize on student collaboration and flexible instruction. The classroom building features ample secondary spaces on the upper floors that include teacher workrooms, speech therapy rooms, and resource specialist classrooms. West of the classroom building is the multi-purpose building that includes an 8,500-SF multi-purpose space, kitchen, staff lunchroom, and a covered outdoor lunch area.
The new campus is home to over 650 children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Design goals were merged with the community aesthetic from the surrounding region which results in a school that responds to neighborhood initiatives, such as open space, student safety, and sustainability, while complementing a comprehensive district program. Building footprints were designed to be as efficient as possible in order to gain desired playground areas and minimize underutilized space, and the intersecting space between the buildings serves as the main entry to the campus. This single point of access to the school helps provide increased security and a streamlined pick-up/drop-off zone.
Posted in Awards,Pre-K–12 Education
Orchard School Library Receives ENR California “Award of Merit”
October 2nd, 2012
ENR California has awarded the Orchard School Library an “Award of Merit” in its Best Projects competition, which recognizes the region’s best achievements in construction and design. This project is a success because of the rigorous planning and collaboration from key members of the school community with oversight from the strong design and construction team of HMC Architects and Blach Construction. The district challenged the project team to create a facility that embodies academic excellence, promotes technology literacy, and builds community and to do so with environmental sensitivity.
“We had a clear vision of building a library that was communal, modern, and inspiring for 21st century learning, while ensuring it operated efficiently and affordably,” said Jackie Felbinger, former Director of Educational Services for the Orchard School District who oversaw the design and construction of the new library. “We are pleased to offer students a facility with environmentally friendly design elements that support the healthy learning environment our students deserve.”
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Posted in Articles & Publications,Awards,Pre-K–12 Education
LAUSD’s Elementary School #9 Opens
September 6th, 2012
LAUSD’s Elementary School #9 officially opened for the 2012/2013 school year, complete with an open, welcoming campus for students while maximizing convenience to parents and administration. The community was in need of the school to alleviate overcrowding at the other six regional Los Angeles elementary schools. The new campus is home to over 650 children in kindergarten through fifth grade and consists of a 12,500-SF multi-purpose building, a 62,000-SF classroom building, and a variety of outdoor playground areas. In response to the neighborhood context, the design strategy is rooted in minimizing the building footprints, making them as efficient as possible in order to gain desired playground areas and minimize underutilized space. The project also reduces traffic congestion and provides convenience to parents and the community. ES #9 results in an elementary school that is enhancing the neighborhood through education and a source of pride for the community.
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Posted in Pre-K–12 Education
Irvine’s Fifth High School to be Designed by HMC Architects
June 27th, 2012
Design meetings with HMC Architects on Irvine’s fifth comprehensive high school will begin in July, the Irvine School Board has confirmed.
The decision wraps up a three-month selection process among 38 firms invited to compete for the project. A panel of 11 Irvine Unified staff and residents thought that Los Angeles-based HMC Architects was the best fit for the district, which tries to provide as many opportunities to its students as possible, said John Fogarty, the district’s assistant superintendent of business services.
Read the full article in the OC Register. >>
Posted in Articles & Publications,Pre-K–12 Education
The Orchard School Library Receives LEED Gold
May 11th, 2012
The Orchard School Library, designed by HMC Architects, has received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Orchard School—an elementary and middle school in northeastern San Jose—sought a sustainable facility to improve its outdated and overcrowded campus library, with the goals of housing their growing book collection, improving student access to technology, and educating students on green buildings and a sustainable future. The project is the first LEED Gold certified K-12 public school building in the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County. Additionally, it is the third LEED Gold certified K-12 public school facility in the State of California.
Posted in High Performance Architecture,News Releases,Pre-K–12 Education
Orchard Library Snags Cover of D+A Magazine
April 1st, 2012
Orchard School Library recently made the cover of D+A Magazine out of Santiago, Chile, and features an article by Randy Peterson, HMC CEO/President. For more information about the publication, visit D+A’s website.
Posted in Articles & Publications,International,Pre-K–12 Education
Interior Design Positivity Issue: Orchard School Library
March 28th, 2012
A library for the Orchard School in the Silicon Valley city of San Jose kept HMC busy for the past two years, read the entire article by Edie Cohen in the March 2012 edition of Interior Design.
Posted in Articles & Publications,Interior Architecture,Pre-K–12 Education
Sonia Sotomayor Learning Academies Wins Best Sustainable Project
March 15th, 2012
Sonia Sotomayor Learning Academies was recently honored with the “Best Sustainable Project” award from the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Commercial Real Estate Awards. Read more about the award from the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Posted in Awards,Pre-K–12 Education
Metropolis: Orchard School Library
March 15th, 2012
HMC Architects create a library with a pedagogical mission for San Jose’s Orchard School, read the full article by Eva Hagberg in the March 2012 edition of Metropolis.
Posted in Articles & Publications,Interior Architecture,Pre-K–12 Education
Workshops and Clinics: C.A.S.H. Conference 2012
February 3rd, 2012
Attending the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (C.A.S.H.) Conference this week in Sacramento? Be sure to drop in on our workshops and clinics.
No More Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
Monday, February 20, 2012
3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Presented by Janet Dixon, Riverside USD, and Marco Eacrett, HMC Architects
You passed the paper screening! Next step is the dreaded panel interview. A lighthearted and informative workshop on how to avoid some common landmines and get the job! This workshop will be moderated by C.A.S.H. Treasurer Janet Dixon, Director of Planning and Development, Riverside Unified School District. Janet has many years of experience interviewing school facility professionals and will give you excellent tips on how to be successful.
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Posted in Pre-K–12 Education,Speaking Engagements
