School Entry Provides a Sense of a Protected yet Welcoming Interior Campus

Addressing a distinctly Southern California aesthetic and climate, this new elementary school provides a safe educational haven in urban South Gate, a bustling burg in the Gateway Cities region of Los Angeles.

Major initiatives of the project included maximizing play areas and other open spaces, reducing traffic congestion, and providing security without hindering the school’s openness toward the community.

On opening day, the campus will welcome 650 students through its sweeping entry, significantly reducing overcrowding at other elementary schools in the region. Aligning with the District’s CHPS-based performance standards, the design includes skylights, operable windows, and “cool roof” materials that minimize heat gain; building orientation will supply ample shade on lunch areas and playfields, while overhangs and horizontal sunshades will ensure daylighting without glare.

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