ASPIRE CHARTER SCHOOL

South Los Angeles, CA: Current

This project, for Aspire Charter School (developed by Pacific Charter School Development), calls for 32,000 SF of new, ground-up construction (construction cost: $4.8 million). The design engenders a sense of community both within the school and the larger neighborhood of which it is a part. Measures to encourage the latter include a community learning garden, as well as creatively programming the corner ground floor classrooms to be convertible to, in one case, a neighborhood coffee house, and in the other a community technology center. Due to the limited size of the site, the U-shaped building is efficiently packed into two full stories, to maximize remaining play area. Additional open space is gained by using the roof of the lunch shelter as outdoor learning zones used by the adjacent science classrooms.

The classroom wing, which holds all but three of the 23 school classrooms, is designed so that each is naturally-ventilated. Air quality is maximized through the use of low VOC materials, filtration, ducted returns, and pollution source control. Bioswales at the base of the buildings capture roof and groundwater runoff (and irrigate the learning garden), and drought tolerant trees not only minimize water use, but are placed in such a way as to shade windows and minimize heat gain. Permeable paving in the parking lot absorbs stormwater rather than surcharging the sewer system. Solar panels top the two short wings of the school, while a planted roof covers the classroom wing, further reducing heat gain. Misters alongside the classroom walkway passively cool the air on hot days.

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